JP2010033362A - Printer driver program, printing controller, and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save time and labor of user's print setting in printing a large number of sheets, with a simple configuration. <P>SOLUTION: This printer driver program for making an information processor function as a printing controller for outputting print data to a printer provided with a plurality of paper feeding devices having the different numbers of feedable sheets and a plurality of paper ejection tables having the different numbers of placeable sheets further makes the information processor function as a printing condition setting means for setting the paper feeding device and the paper ejection table used for printing in the printer on the basis of a user's instruction, wherein the printing condition setting means, when the user selects the paper feeding device having the maximum number of feedable sheets, sets a paper ejection table having the maximum number of placeable sheets linked with the selected paper feeding device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a user interface in a printing control apparatus that controls a printing apparatus that includes a plurality of sheet feeding apparatuses with different numbers of sheets that can be fed and a plurality of paper discharge trays with different numbers of sheets that can be stacked.

For example, as described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, a printing apparatus including a plurality of sheet feeding apparatuses having different sheet feedable numbers and a plurality of sheet discharge trays having different stackable sheet numbers is widely used. . In such a printing apparatus, the user can select a paper feeding device and a paper discharge tray according to the number of printed sheets, a printing purpose, and the like.
JP 2003-267613 A JP 2003-280876 A

  When printing a large number of sheets, in order to avoid running out of paper in the paper feeder or overflowing paper from the paper ejection tray during printing, feed the largest number of papers that can be fed. It is desirable to select an apparatus and select a paper discharge tray having the largest number of sheets that can be stacked.

  Conventionally, in order to select the paper feeding device with the largest number of sheets that can be fed and to select the paper tray with the largest number of sheets that can be loaded, the paper feeding device with the largest number of papers that can be fed is selected from the paper feeding device setting menu on the print setting screen. It is time-consuming for the user to select a paper device and set a paper discharge tray with the largest number of stackable sheets from the paper discharge stand setting menu. In order to reduce this effort, as described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, the number of printed data can be analyzed, and an optimum paper feeding device and paper discharge table can be automatically selected. Though conceivable, the configuration becomes complicated, leading to an increase in cost.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to save the user from the trouble of print setting when printing a large number of sheets with a simple configuration.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a printer driver program according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a printing apparatus including a plurality of sheet feeding apparatuses having different sheet feedable numbers and a plurality of sheet discharge trays having different stackable sheet numbers. A printer driver program that causes an information processing device to function as a print control device that outputs print data to the printer, and sets printing conditions for setting a paper feeding device and a paper discharge tray used for printing in the printing device based on a user instruction The information processing apparatus is further functioned as a means, and the printing condition setting means is configured such that when the user selects a paper feeding apparatus having the largest number of sheets that can be fed, the paper discharge tray having the largest number of sheets that can be stacked is linked to this. Is set.

  According to the present invention, when a sheet feeding device having the largest number of sheets that can be fed is selected, a sheet discharge tray having the largest number of sheets that can be loaded is automatically set. This saves the user from having to separately perform a menu operation to select a paper discharge tray having the largest number of stackable sheets. In addition, since it is linked to the setting of the paper feeding device, a simple configuration can be achieved.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a printer driver program according to a second aspect of the present invention is provided in a printing apparatus including a plurality of sheet feeding apparatuses having different sheet feedable numbers and a plurality of sheet discharge trays having different stackable sheet numbers. A printer driver program for causing an information processing apparatus to function as a print control apparatus that outputs print data, wherein a print condition setting unit sets a paper feeding device and a paper discharge table used for printing in the printing device based on a user instruction The information processing apparatus is further functioned, and when the print condition setting unit receives an instruction from the user to print a large number of sheets, the print condition setting unit sets a sheet feeding apparatus with the largest number of sheets that can be fed in conjunction with the instruction. In this case, a discharge tray having the largest number of sheets that can be loaded is set.

  According to the present invention, when an instruction to print a large number of sheets is received from the user, the sheet feeding device having the largest number of sheets that can be fed is automatically set, and the sheet discharge tray having the largest number of sheets that can be stacked is automatically set. I am trying to set it. This saves the user from having to separately perform a menu operation to select the sheet feeding device having the largest number of sheets that can be fed, and to select the sheet discharge tray having the largest number of sheets that can be stacked. In addition, since it is linked to the setting of the paper feeding device, a simple configuration can be achieved. Here, for example, an instruction to print a large number of sheets can be accepted by the user selecting a menu item for printing a large number of sheets, and the user has recognized that the number of sheets has been printed regardless of the actual number of printed sheets. It is enough to point to the case.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a printing control apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is a printing apparatus including a plurality of sheet feeding apparatuses having different sheet feedable numbers and a plurality of sheet discharge trays having different stackable sheet numbers. A print control apparatus that outputs print data, comprising: a print condition setting unit that sets a paper feeding device and a paper discharge tray used for printing in the printing apparatus based on a user instruction, and the print condition setting unit includes: When a user selects a sheet feeding device having the largest number of sheets that can be fed, a discharge tray having the largest number of sheets that can be stacked is set in conjunction therewith.

  In order to solve the above problem, a print control apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is a printing apparatus including a plurality of sheet feeding apparatuses having different sheet feedable numbers and a plurality of sheet discharge trays having different stackable sheet numbers. A print control apparatus that outputs print data, comprising: a print condition setting unit that sets a paper feeding device and a paper discharge tray used for printing in the printing apparatus based on a user instruction, and the print condition setting unit includes: When an instruction to print a large number of sheets is received from the user, a paper feeding device having the largest number of sheets that can be fed is set in conjunction with this, and a paper discharge tray having the largest number of sheets that can be stacked is set. To do.

  In order to solve the above problems, a printing apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of sheet feeding apparatuses having different sheet feedable numbers, a plurality of sheet discharge trays having different stackable sheet numbers, and a sheet feeding apparatus used for printing. And a printing condition setting means for setting a paper discharge tray based on a user instruction, wherein the printing condition setting means selects a paper feeding apparatus having the largest number of paper feeds by the user. Then, in conjunction with this, a discharge tray having the largest number of sheets that can be stacked is set.

  In order to solve the above problem, a printing apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of sheet feeding apparatuses having different sheet feedable numbers, a plurality of sheet discharge trays having different stackable sheet numbers, and a sheet feeding apparatus used for printing. And a printing condition setting means for setting a paper discharge tray based on an instruction from the user, and the printing condition setting means receives the instruction from the user to print a large number of sheets. The paper feeding device having the largest number of papers that can be fed is set in conjunction with the printer, and the paper discharge tray having the largest number of papers that can be stacked is set.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to save the user from the trouble of print setting when printing a large number of sheets with a simple configuration.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a printing system according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the printing system includes a printing apparatus 10 and a personal computer (PC) 20 that functions as a printing control apparatus. The connection form between the printing apparatus 10 and the PC 20 is typically a LAN (Local Area Network) connection in which a plurality of PCs 20 share the printing apparatus 10, but the printing apparatus 10 and a personal computer (PC). 20 may be a local connection in a one-to-one connection.

  The printing apparatus 10 includes a plurality of sheet feeding apparatuses that differ in the number of sheets that can be fed and a plurality of sheet discharge tables that differ in the number of sheets that can be stacked. In addition to the printer function for performing printing based on the print data sent from the PC 20, the printing apparatus 10 has a copy function for performing copy printing by reading an image of a document placed on a document table.

  A printer driver program developed for the printing apparatus 10 is installed in the PC 20, and the printer driver unit 210 is formed when the CPU of the PC 20 executes this program. When the printer driver unit 210 operates, the PC 20 functions as a print control apparatus.

  The printer driver unit 210 generates print data such as a document to be printed based on an instruction from the user and outputs the print data to the printing apparatus 10. In order to perform this process, the printer driver unit 210 includes a print condition setting unit 211 and a print data generation unit 212. The print condition setting unit 211 receives settings of print conditions such as print quality, number of printed sheets, paper size, paper type, paper feed device designation, paper discharge tray designation, and the like from the user. The print data generation unit 212 generates print data based on the document designated as the print target and the print condition setting received by the print condition setting unit 211, and outputs the print data to the printing apparatus 10.

In this embodiment, the printing condition setting unit 211 sets a paper feeding device and a paper discharge tray used for printing in the printing apparatus 10 based on a user instruction, and the paper feeding device with the largest number of papers that can be fed is set. When selected by the user, the paper discharge tray with the largest number of stackable sheets is set in conjunction with this. Further, when receiving an instruction from the user to print a large number of sheets, the printing condition setting unit 211 sets a sheet feeding device having the largest number of sheets that can be fed in conjunction with this, and discharges the sheet having the largest number of sheets that can be stacked. Set the paper base.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the printing apparatus 10 includes a control unit 110, a communication processing unit 120, an image reading unit 130, an operation panel unit 150, a print execution unit 310, a paper feed unit 320, a paper discharge unit 330, and a conveyance drive unit 350. It has.

  The communication processing unit 120 performs protocol processing corresponding to the connection form in order to communicate with the PC 20. For example, in the case of LAN connection, communication processing by TCP / IP is performed. Further, the communication processing unit 120 receives print data that is image information from the PC 20 that is one of the input sources of image information.

  The image reading unit 130 is one of input sources of image information, and includes a document table, a light receiving element, a light source, a lens, a scanning mechanism, and the like, and reads image data of a document placed on the document table and converts it into an electrical signal. Then, a process of outputting the image information to the control unit 110 is performed. The image reading unit 130 may be installed in the printing apparatus 10 or may be installed outside the printing apparatus 10.

  The print execution unit 310 is a mechanism for forming an image on a print sheet using an image forming medium. In this embodiment, the print execution unit 310 performs printing by ejecting ink line by line from a print head 312 having a width that covers the print sheet. Inkjet mechanism is adopted. However, as an image forming medium, a serial type ink jet mechanism or a laser type printing mechanism using toner or the like may be employed.

  The paper feed unit 320 that supplies printing paper includes a plurality of paper feed mechanisms having different numbers of paper that can be fed. In the present embodiment, a paper feed stand 320a exposed to the outside, a gantry-type first paper feed tray 320b, a gantry-type second paper feed tray 320c, a gantry-type third paper feed tray 320d, and a gantry-type fourth paper feed tray 320d. Five paper feeding mechanisms with the paper feeding tray 320e are provided. A plurality of printing sheets can be set in each sheet feeding mechanism in a stacked state. The size of A4, B5, etc. and the type of paper such as plain paper, inkjet paper, etc. are defined for the printing paper, and printing paper of the same size and the same paper type is set in one paper feeding mechanism. To. Each paper feed mechanism is provided with a paper feed sensor so that paper out can be detected.

  Each sheet feeding mechanism has a predetermined number of sheets that can be fed, and print sheets can be set within the range of the number of sheets that can be fed. In this example, it is assumed that the paper feed tray 320a has the largest number of papers that can be fed, for example, about 2000 sheets can be set. Since the first paper feed tray 320b, the second paper feed tray 320c, the third paper feed tray 320c, and the fourth paper feed tray 320d are of the gantry type, the number of sheets that can be fed is smaller than that of the paper feed tray 320a. Assume that about 500 sheets can be set for each of the first sheet feed tray 320b and the second sheet feed tray 320c, and about 300 sheets can be set for each of the third sheet feed tray 320c and the fourth sheet feed tray 320d.

  The paper discharge unit 330 for stacking the discharged printed printing paper includes a plurality of paper discharge trays with different numbers of stackable sheets. In this embodiment, the standard discharge tray 330a is discharged face down, the number of stackable sheets is small, the sheet is discharged face up, the medium discharge tray 330b having a medium stackable number is discharged, and the sheet is discharged face up. A large number of paper discharge trays 330c having a large number of stackable sheets are provided. For example, it is assumed that the number of stackable sheets of the standard discharge tray 330a and the medium amount discharge tray 330b is about several hundreds, and the number of stackable sheets of the large-volume discharge tray 330c is about 2,000.

  Each paper discharge tray is provided with a paper discharge amount sensor (see FIG. 3). The paper discharge amount sensor indicates whether the paper discharge tray is empty and the number of sheets that can be stacked. It detects that a predetermined amount in the vicinity has been reached. The paper discharge amount sensor can determine, for example, whether the stacked print sheets have reached a predetermined amount by detecting the weight of the stacked print sheets or detecting the stacked height. Alternatively, by counting the number of discharged sheets, it can be determined whether or not the stacked print sheets have reached a predetermined amount.

  The conveyance drive unit 350 is a drive mechanism that conveys printing paper, and includes a motor and the like. Further, a transport belt 352 that functions as a transport mechanism at the time of transporting printing paper at a predetermined print transport speed at the time of printing is provided at a position facing the print head 312. Further, there are provided a plurality of switching mechanisms (see FIG. 3) for switching the conveyance path in order to guide the printing paper to the paper discharge tray used for paper discharge.

  The control unit 110 includes a CPU, a memory, an image processing device, and the like. When these devices perform processing, the operation panel control unit 111, the paper discharge tray setting storage unit 112, the paper feed control unit 113, the discharge control unit 113, and the like. A paper control unit 114, a conveyance control unit 115, an image processing unit 116, and an ejection processing unit 117 are formed.

  The operation panel control unit 111 performs processing for interpreting a screen displayed on the operation panel unit 150 and a user operation input via the operation panel unit 150. The paper feed control unit 113 sets a paper feed mechanism that feeds the print paper used for printing according to the printing conditions, and performs control for taking the print paper from the paper feed mechanism into the transport driving unit 350 at a predetermined timing. The paper discharge control unit 114 sets a paper discharge stand for discharging printed printing paper according to printing conditions. Then, the conveyance control unit 115 is notified of the set discharge tray so that the printing paper is discharged from the set discharge tray.

  The conveyance control unit 115 controls the sheet conveyance in the conveyance driving unit 350 including the conveyance belt 352 and other driving mechanisms. Specifically, a transport speed and a transport path are set, and a control signal is output to the transport drive unit 350 so as to transport the paper according to the settings. The transport speed is determined by printing conditions such as print quality and paper type, and the transport path is determined by a set paper feed mechanism, a set paper discharge tray, double-sided print settings, and the like.

  The image processing unit 116 converts the RGB format print data into the CMYK format, and further converts the image data into image data that can be interpreted by the print execution unit 310. The image data is data indicating the number of ink drops in dot units, for example. The discharge processing unit 117 controls ink discharge processing in the print head 312 based on the image data.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the paper feeding unit 320, the paper discharge unit 330, and the printing paper conveyance path of the printing apparatus 10. As shown in the figure, the printing apparatus 10 includes a paper feed base 320a, a first paper feed tray 320b, a second paper feed tray 320c, a third paper feed tray 320d, and a fourth paper feed tray 320e that are provided as a paper feed mechanism. The print head 312 performs printing on the printing paper fed from any of the above, and the paper is discharged to any one of the standard paper discharge tray 330a, medium-volume paper discharge tray 330b, and large-volume paper discharge tray 330c. To do. As described above, the standard paper discharge tray 330a is a paper discharge tray that is discharged face down and has a small number of stackable sheets, and the medium amount paper discharge tray 330b is discharged face up and has a medium stackable number of sheets. The large-volume sheet discharge tray 330c is a sheet discharge table that is discharged face-up and has a large number of stackable sheets.

  The printing apparatus 10 includes, as a printing mechanism, a print head 312 that extends in a direction orthogonal to the paper conveyance direction and has a large number of nozzles. The print head 312 is independent for each ink color, and black or color ink is ejected from each print head to perform color printing in line units.

  The printing paper fed one by one from one of the paper feed mechanisms is fed into a paper feed system conveyance path (path indicated by a thick black line in the figure) by a drive mechanism such as a roller constituting the conveyance drive unit 350. And is guided to the resist portion Rg. Here, the registration portion Rg is provided to perform alignment and skew correction of the leading edge of the printing paper, and includes a pair of registration rollers. The fed printing paper is temporarily stopped at the registration unit Rg and conveyed toward the printing mechanism at a predetermined timing.

  The printing paper is image-formed line by line with the ink ejected from the printing head 312 while being conveyed at a speed determined by printing conditions by an annular conveying belt 352 provided on the opposite surface of the printing head 312.

  When the printing paper having the upper surface printed thereon is discharged to the large volume discharge tray 330c, it is conveyed by the switching mechanism 382 in the direction of the large volume discharge tray 330c, and is discharged as it is with the printing surface facing upward. The paper is stacked on the paper discharge tray 330c. When the paper is discharged to the medium amount discharge tray 330b, it is further transported in the housing by the switching mechanism 382, and is transported in the direction of the medium amount discharge tray 330b by the switching mechanism 384. Then, the sheet is discharged as it is with the print side up, and is stacked on the medium amount discharge tray 330b. When paper is discharged from the standard paper discharge tray 330a, it is further transported inside the housing by a switching mechanism 384 and a driving mechanism such as a roller. Then, the paper is guided by the switching mechanism 386 in the direction of the standard paper discharge tray 330a and discharged, and is stacked on the standard paper discharge tray 330a with the printing surface facing down.

  Each of the paper discharge trays has a tray shape protruding from the housing and has a certain thickness. In addition, each paper discharge tray is inclined so that the printed paper that has been discharged is naturally arranged and overlapped in the process of sliding down along the inclination by the wall formed at the lower position of the inclination. It has become.

  The standard paper discharge tray 330a, medium-volume paper discharge tray 330b, and large-volume paper discharge tray 330c have a predetermined number of sheets that can be stacked, and it is detected that the print sheet has reached a predetermined amount near the number of sheets that can be stacked. A paper discharge amount sensor 332a, a paper discharge amount sensor 332b, and a paper discharge amount sensor 332c are provided.

  For double-sided printing, which prints on both sides of the printing paper, the front side (the first printed side is the “front side” and the next printed side is the “back side”). Without being guided, the inside of the housing is further conveyed by the switching mechanism 386. Then, it is drawn into the switchback route SR and performs switchback, and the front and back are reversed with respect to the conveyance route. After reversing the front and back, it is guided again to the registration portion Rg by a driving mechanism such as a roller and temporarily stops. Thereafter, the sheet is conveyed in the direction of the printing mechanism at a predetermined timing, and the back side is printed by the same procedure as that for the front side. The printing paper on which the back side is printed and images are formed on both sides is discharged and stacked on one of the paper discharge trays according to the specification of the paper discharge port included in the printing conditions.

  In the printing apparatus 10, the switchback at the time of duplex printing is performed using the space provided in the standard paper discharge tray 330a. The space provided in the standard paper discharge tray 330a is covered so that the printing paper cannot be taken out from the outside at the time of switchback. As a result, it is possible to prevent the user from accidentally pulling out the printing paper during the switchback operation. Further, the standard paper discharge tray 330a is originally provided in the printing apparatus 10, and by performing switchback using the space in the standard paper discharge tray 330a, a separate switchback is provided in the printing apparatus 10. It is not necessary to provide a space for use. Therefore, an increase in the size of the housing can be prevented. Furthermore, since the standard paper discharge tray 330a and the switchback path are not shared, the switchback processing and the discharge of other sheets can be performed in parallel.

  Next, basic printing processing of the printing apparatus 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As described above, the printing apparatus 10 is provided with a copy function for reading and copying an image in addition to a printer function for performing printing based on print data sent from the PC 20. Therefore, a printing procedure corresponding to each function is performed.

  First, prior to the printing process, initialization is performed (S101). In the initial setting, setting of the size and type of printing paper for each paper feeding device is performed. When the printing apparatus 10 that has completed the initial setting receives print data as image information from the PC 20 (S102: Yes), the printing apparatus 10 performs a process of converting the received print data into image data (S103). ), Printing processing is performed by the print execution unit 310 (S106). In this case, setting of printing conditions is performed by the printer driver unit 210 of the PC 20.

  When a copy operation is received from the user via the operation panel unit 150 (S104: Yes), the image reading unit 130 performs an image reading process (S105), and the print execution unit 310 is based on image data that is image information. Printing processing is performed (S106). In this case, the printing conditions are set by the operation panel unit 150 and the operation panel control unit 111.

  Next, a printing condition setting process when printing is performed by the printing apparatus 10, particularly a paper feeding apparatus setting process and a paper discharge tray setting process will be described.

  When printing by the printing apparatus 10, the user can set printing conditions such as paper size, paper type, number of copies, paper discharge destination, etc. prior to printing. The printing conditions are set by the printer driver unit 210 of the PC 20 when printing is performed using the printer function, and the operation panel unit 150 and the operation panel control unit of the printing apparatus 10 are used when printing is performed using the copy function. 111.

  First, setting of a paper feeding device (paper feeding tray) will be described. FIG. 5 shows an example of a print condition setting screen 500 when print conditions are set by the printer driver unit 210 of the PC 20. In the print condition setting screen 500 of this example, the print condition settings are divided into a plurality of pages, and the paper tray can be selected on the menu page related to “basic”. The selection of the paper feed tray can be set by a pull-down paper feed tray selection menu 501.

  Here, in the pull-down paper feed tray selection menu 501, as shown in FIG. 6, “first tray”, “second tray”, “third tray”, “first” which are the paper feed devices provided in the printing apparatus 10. In addition to “4 trays” and “paper feeders”, “auto tray selection” can be selected. When the user wants to designate a specific sheet feeding device, the user selects any one of “first tray”, “second tray”, “third tray”, “fourth tray”, and “sheet feeding table”, and the sheet feeding table. If the selection is left to the printing apparatus 10, “auto tray selection” may be selected. Note that when displaying this menu, the printer driver unit 210 can communicate with the printing apparatus 10 to obtain information on usable paper feeding apparatuses. In addition, an external view of the printing apparatus 10 may be schematically displayed on the print condition setting screen 500, and the selected paper feed tray may be highlighted so that the user can easily understand it visually.

  When a user performs a large amount of printing, it is desirable that the user selects a paper feeding tray having the largest number of papers that can be fed. The default setting is “first tray”. When “auto tray selection” is selected, “first tray” is basically set as the paper feed tray.

  FIG. 7 shows a paper feed tray setting screen displayed on the operation panel unit 150 when setting the paper feed tray by the operation panel unit 150 and the operation panel control unit 111 of the printing apparatus 10 when performing printing by the copy function. An example of 150a is shown. In this example, any one of “Auto Tray Selection”, “First Tray”, “Second Tray”, “Third Tray”, “Fourth Tray”, and “Feeding Table” can be selected from the button group 151 as a paper feeding device option for copying. Can be selected. In both cases, the setting contents are the same as when the printing conditions are set by the printer driver unit 210 of the PC 20.

  Next, the setting of the paper discharge tray (paper discharge destination) will be described. FIG. 8 shows an example of a print condition setting screen 510 when print conditions are set by the printer driver unit 210 of the PC 20. On the menu page related to “Finishing”, it is possible to select a paper discharge destination, and the selection of the paper discharge destination can be set by a paper discharge destination selection menu 511 in a pull-down format.

  Here, in the pull-down format discharge destination selection menu 511, as shown in FIG. 9, the “standard discharge tray”, “mass discharge tray”, “medium amount discharge” which are discharge trays provided in the printing apparatus 10 are provided. "Auto" can be selected in addition to "Tray". When the user wants to designate a specific paper discharge tray, the user selects any one of “standard paper discharge tray”, “mass paper discharge tray”, and “medium amount paper discharge tray”, and selects the paper feed tray as the printing apparatus 10. If it is entrusted to, “Auto” may be selected. The default setting is “standard paper discharge tray”. When “Auto” is selected, “standard paper discharge tray” is basically set as the paper discharge destination. Note that when displaying this menu, the printer driver unit 210 can communicate with the printing apparatus 10 and acquire information on the usable paper discharge tray. In addition, an external view of the printing apparatus 10 may be schematically displayed on the printing condition setting screen 510, and the selected paper discharge tray may be highlighted so that the user can easily understand it visually.

  FIG. 10 illustrates a paper discharge destination setting screen displayed on the operation panel unit 150 when the operation panel unit 150 and the operation panel control unit 111 of the printing apparatus 10 are used to set a paper discharge destination when printing is performed using the copy function. An example of 150b is shown. In this example, one of “auto”, “standard paper discharge tray”, “mass paper discharge tray”, and “medium amount paper discharge tray” can be selected from the button group 152 as a paper discharge tray option at the time of copying. In both cases, the setting contents are the same as when the printing conditions are set by the printer driver unit 210 of the PC 20.

  Next, processing for setting the sheet feeding device will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, a case where the printing conditions are set by the printer driver unit 210 of the PC 20 will be described as an example, but the same processing is performed when the printing conditions are set by the operation panel unit 150 and the operation panel control unit 111 of the printing apparatus 10. It can be.

  When executing printing, the printer driver unit 210 displays the print condition setting screen 500 and starts accepting print condition settings from the user (S201). Then, it is determined whether or not “paper feeder” is selected in the paper tray selection menu 501 of this menu page (S202).

  When “paper feed tray” is selected in the paper feed tray selection menu 501 (S202: Yes), “mass output tray” is automatically set as a paper discharge destination (S203). That is, as shown in FIG. 12, when “paper feed tray” is selected in the paper feed tray selection menu 501 on the print condition setting screen 500, the paper discharge destination selection menu 511 on the print condition setting screen 510 is linked. Automatically set to “Mass Output Tray”.

  That is, it is assumed that the user performs a large amount of printing because the user selects a sheet feeding device having the largest number of sheets that can be fed. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when a sheet feeding device having the largest number of sheets that can be fed is selected, a sheet discharge tray having the largest number of sheets that can be loaded is automatically set. As a result, the user can save time and effort for selecting the “large-volume discharge tray” separately from the discharge destination selection menu 511. In addition, since it is linked to the setting of the paper feeding device, a simple configuration can be achieved. Of course, the user can change the paper discharge destination in the paper discharge destination selection menu 511 on the print condition setting screen 510 when the user wants to discharge the paper to another paper feed tray.

  When the print condition setting is completed (S204), print data is generated based on the set print condition and transmitted to the printing apparatus 10 to start printing (S205). In the printing apparatus 10, paper feed and paper discharge are executed according to the set printing conditions (S206). That is, when the user selects “Paper Feeder” to perform mass printing, paper is fed from the paper feeder 320a, and printed paper is placed on the mass discharge tray 330c set in conjunction with the paper feed. The paper is discharged. If the user does not change the default setting, paper is fed from the first paper feed tray 320b, and the printed paper is discharged to the standard paper discharge tray 330a.

  Next, another example of processing when setting the sheet feeding device will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, a case where the printing conditions are set by the printer driver unit 210 of the PC 20 will be described as an example, but the same processing is performed when the printing conditions are set by the operation panel unit 150 and the operation panel control unit 111 of the printing apparatus 10. It can be.

  When executing printing, the printer driver unit 210 displays a print condition setting screen 500 and starts accepting print condition settings from the user (S301). As shown in FIG. 14, a menu page related to “application” is prepared on the printing condition setting screen 530. On the menu page related to “Application”, a multi-sheet printing selection box 521 is arranged in addition to setting menus such as “number of copies” and “program printing”. The user can add a check mark to the multi-sheet printing selection box 521 when printing a large number of sheets. It should be noted that a check mark may be added when the user recognizes the multi-sheet printing regardless of the actual number of printed sheets.

  The printing condition setting unit 211 of the printer driver unit 210 determines whether or not a check mark is added to the multi-sheet printing selection box 521 of this menu page (S302).

  If a check mark is added to the multi-sheet printing selection box 521 (S302: Yes), the “paper feeding tray” is automatically set as the paper feeding device, and the “mass paper ejection tray” as the paper ejection destination. Is automatically set (S303). That is, as shown in FIG. 15, when a check mark is added to the multi-sheet printing selection box 521 of the printing condition setting screen 520, the “paper feeding tray” is automatically set in the paper feeding tray selection menu 501 and printing is performed. The paper discharge destination selection menu 511 on the condition setting screen 510 is automatically set to “mass output tray”.

  That is, in this embodiment, when the user designates multi-sheet printing, a paper feeding device having the largest number of sheets that can be fed is automatically selected, and a paper discharge tray having the largest number of sheets that can be stacked is automatically set. I am doing so. This saves the user the trouble of separately selecting “paper feed tray” in the paper feed tray selection menu 501 and further selecting “mass paper discharge tray” in the paper discharge destination selection menu 511. In addition, since it is linked to the designation of multi-sheet printing, a simple configuration can be achieved.

  When the setting of the printing conditions is completed (S304), print data is generated based on the set printing conditions and transmitted to the printing apparatus 10 to start printing (S305). In the printing apparatus 10, paper feed and paper discharge are executed according to the set printing conditions (S306). That is, when the user adds a check mark to the multi-sheet printing selection box 521 to perform large-volume printing, paper is fed from the automatically set paper feed tray 320a, and the automatically set large quantity is set. The printed sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 330c. If the user does not add a check mark to the multi-sheet printing selection box 521 and does not change the default setting, paper is fed from the first paper feed tray 320b and is placed in the standard paper discharge tray 330a. The printed paper is discharged.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to save the user's trouble of print setting when printing a large number of sheets with a simple configuration.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a paper feeding mechanism, a paper discharge tray, and a printing paper conveyance path of the printing apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating basic printing processing of the printing apparatus. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print condition setting screen when a paper feed tray is set by a printer driver unit of a PC. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a paper feed tray selection menu. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print condition setting screen when setting a paper feed tray in the printing apparatus. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print condition setting screen when a paper discharge destination is set by a printer driver unit of a PC. It is a figure explaining a paper discharge destination selection menu. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print condition setting screen when setting a discharge destination in the printing apparatus. 10 is a flowchart for describing processing when setting a sheet feeding device. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a discharge destination selection menu set in conjunction with the setting of a paper supply device. 10 is a flowchart illustrating another process when setting a sheet feeding device. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print condition setting screen when setting multi-sheet printing in a printer driver unit of a PC. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a paper feed device selection menu and a paper discharge destination selection menu set in conjunction with the setting for multi-sheet printing.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Printing apparatus, 110 ... Control part, 111 ... Operation panel control part, 112 ... Discharge stand setting memory | storage part, 113 ... Paper feed control part, 114 ... Discharge control part, 115 ... Conveyance control part, 116 ... Image processing , 117 ... Discharge processing unit, 120 ... Communication processing unit, 130 ... Image reading unit, 150 ... Operation panel unit, 210 ... Printer driver unit, 211 ... Print condition setting unit, 212 ... Print data generation unit, 310 ... Print execution , 312... Print head, 320... Paper feeder, 320 a... Paper feed table, 320 b... First paper tray, 320 c .. second paper tray, 320 d. , 330... Discharge section, 330 a... Standard discharge tray, 330 b. Medium discharge tray, 330 c. Large discharge tray, 350. Transport drive section, 352. Transport belt, 382. Structure, 386 ... switching mechanism

Claims (6)

A printer driver program that causes an information processing device to function as a print control device that outputs print data to a printing device that includes a plurality of paper feeding devices having different numbers of sheets that can be fed and a plurality of paper discharge trays having different numbers of sheets that can be stacked. And
Further causing the information processing apparatus to function as a printing condition setting means for setting a paper feeding device and a paper discharge tray used for printing in the printing device based on a user instruction;
The printing condition setting means sets a paper discharge tray with the largest number of sheets that can be stacked in association with the paper feeding device with the largest number of sheets that can be fed, when the user selects the paper feeding device with the largest number of sheets that can be fed. . A printer driver program that causes an information processing device to function as a print control device that outputs print data to a printing device that includes a plurality of paper feeding devices having different numbers of sheets that can be fed and a plurality of paper discharge trays having different numbers of sheets that can be stacked. And
Further causing the information processing apparatus to function as a printing condition setting means for setting a paper feeding device and a paper discharge tray used for printing in the printing device based on a user instruction;
When the printing condition setting unit receives an instruction to print a large number of sheets from the user, the paper condition setting unit sets a sheet feeding device with the largest number of sheets that can be fed in conjunction with the instruction, and discharges a sheet with the largest number of sheets that can be stacked. A printer driver program for setting A print control device that outputs print data to a printing device that includes a plurality of paper feeding devices having different number of sheets that can be fed and a plurality of paper discharge trays having different numbers of sheets that can be stacked.
A printing condition setting unit configured to set a paper feeding device and a paper discharge tray used for printing in the printing device based on a user instruction;
When the user selects a paper feeding device having the largest number of sheets that can be fed, the printing condition setting unit sets a paper discharge tray having the largest number of sheets that can be stacked in conjunction with the paper feeding device. . A print control device that outputs print data to a printing device that includes a plurality of paper feeding devices having different number of sheets that can be fed and a plurality of paper discharge trays having different numbers of sheets that can be stacked.
A printing condition setting unit configured to set a paper feeding device and a paper discharge tray used for printing in the printing device based on a user instruction;
When the printing condition setting unit receives an instruction to print a large number of sheets from the user, the paper condition setting unit sets a sheet feeding device having the largest number of sheets that can be fed in conjunction with the instruction, and discharges a sheet having the largest number of sheets that can be stacked. A printing control apparatus characterized by setting the value. A plurality of sheet feeding devices having different sheet feedable numbers, a plurality of sheet discharge trays having different stackable sheet numbers, and a printing condition setting means for setting a sheet feeding device and a sheet discharge tray used for printing based on a user instruction; A printing apparatus comprising:
The printing apparatus is characterized in that, when a user selects a paper feeding device with the largest number of sheets that can be fed, the printing condition setting means sets a paper discharge tray with the largest number of sheets that can be stacked in conjunction with this. A plurality of sheet feeding devices having different sheet feedable numbers, a plurality of sheet discharge trays having different stackable sheet numbers, and a printing condition setting means for setting a sheet feeding device and a sheet discharge tray used for printing based on a user instruction; A printing apparatus comprising:
When the printing condition setting unit receives an instruction to print a large number of sheets from the user, the paper condition setting unit sets a sheet feeding device having the largest number of sheets that can be fed in conjunction with the instruction, and discharges a sheet having the largest number of sheets that can be stacked. A printing apparatus characterized by setting.