JP2011183777A - Continuous paper both-side printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accelerate the speed of image data transfer in a continuous paper both-side printer. <P>SOLUTION: In the continuous paper both-side printer, the printing of even-number pages is delayed by several pages than the printing of odd-number pages due to the upper/back side reversing of the continuous paper. In the printer, a printer controller generates odd-number page image data and even-number page image data in the order of the pages, proceeds to a process to generate image data of a next page without executing 180°-rotation processing when the even-number page image data serving as back-surface image data is generated, gives the generated odd-number page image data to an upper-surface image processing device when the upper-surface image processing device requires the surface image data, subjects the generated even-number page image data serving as back-surface image data to the 180°-rotation processing when a back-surface image processing device requires the back-surface image data, and gives the processed image to the back-surface image processing device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a continuous paper double-sided printer, and in particular, when printing an image (front image) of a page on the front of a continuous paper, a page different from the certain page on the back of the continuous paper in parallel. The present invention relates to double-sided printing in a continuous paper double-sided printer that prints an image (back image).

  An image forming system that receives a print request from a host device (computer) once by a printer controller and then performs printing by a printer (image forming apparatus) connected to the printer controller via an interface (hereinafter also referred to as I / F). Is already known. In addition, printers that use continuous paper capable of high-speed printing are already known in which the paper transport speed can be varied linearly to prevent damage to the paper due to a sudden stop of paper transport. In the printer, the I / F (interface) for responding to the printer controller and the image data sent from the I / F controller, the printing mechanism, and the printer controller are corrected to match the image forming characteristics of the printing mechanism. There is an image processing apparatus and a process controller that controls a printing mechanism.

  In order to realize double-sided printing with a single continuous paper printer, the width of one side of the image transfer unit is ½ width on a sheet having a paper width size that is ½ of the physical width of the image transfer unit in the printing mechanism. A continuous paper printer that performs double-sided printing in parallel by printing the front side of the paper, performing reverse conveyance of the paper in the paper conveyance path, and printing again using the other half width of the image transfer unit (Hereinafter referred to as SED type continuous paper printer). One example is described in Patent Document 1 (FIG. 5). In Patent Document 1, two printing mechanisms are arranged in tandem (serial), an image is formed on the surface of the continuous paper with the first paper, and the front and back sides of the continuous paper are reversed, and the back surface is printed with the second paper. There is also described a continuous paper printer that forms an image and performs image formation on the back side in parallel with image formation on the first surface (FIG. 10). In any printer, there is a time difference between the front surface image formation and the back surface image formation formed on the back of the front surface image. That is, when an image (front image) of a certain page is printed on the front of the continuous paper, in parallel, a back image to be formed on the back of the page different from the certain page is formed on the back of the continuous paper. Form. Therefore, there is a time difference between image formation on one front side of a page frame on continuous paper corresponding to one cut sheet and image formation on the back side.

  FIG. 3 shows an outline of the SED type continuous paper printer. The continuous paper 1 passes through the drum 3 of the image forming mechanism 2 and the left half region of the roller 4 having an image forming area that is at least twice as wide as that width. An image is formed. Then, it passes through the reversing roller 5, passes through the return rollers 6 and 7, passes through the right half area of the drum 3 and the roller 4 of the image forming mechanism 2 in the reverse state, and the image forming mechanism 2 forms an image on the back surface that is the front side. Is formed.

  An image data processing system from a printer controller in a conventional SED type continuous paper printer is composed of a front side image processing apparatus, a back side image processing unit, and an image processing controller, and is used for a front side / back side image processing. Are configured to perform image processing of each print page, and the I / F controller and the process controller execute printer status notification and synchronous control of front / back surface image processing.

  FIG. 4 shows the timing of data transmission from the printer controller to the front side / back side image processing apparatus at the time of duplex printing job processing in a conventional SED continuous paper duplex printer. The print job is for 40 pages (20 pages on the front side, 20 pages on the back side). FIG. 5 shows the order of image pages processed by the front side / back side image processing apparatus in the case of 20 pages (front page 10 pages, back side 10 pages).

  In conventional duplex printing, the printer controller sends print image data (image data) created from a print job, the front side image data is sent to the front side image processing device, the back side image data is sent to the back side image processing device, and At the same time, page data transmission completion notification is sent to the I / F controller each time transmission of image data or a blank page instruction to the front / back side image processing apparatus is completed. The image processing apparatus performs image processing conforming to the image forming characteristics of the print engine on the received image data on both the front side and the back side, and then notifies the process controller of page data printable status. Since the surface image processing apparatus does not need to perform image processing because it has received a blank page instruction from the printer controller, it issues a process controller page data printable status notification upon receipt of the blank page instruction. On the other hand, the front side image processing apparatus immediately before the end of printing does not need to perform image processing because it has received a blank page instruction from the printer controller, so as soon as a blank page instruction is received, a page data printable status notification is sent to the process controller. Do. The process controller waits for the page data printable status notifications from the front side image image processing device and the back side image image processing device to be ready, and then issues a paper feed instruction to the printing mechanism of the print engine. The apparatus and the back side image processing apparatus are instructed to transmit image data to the printing mechanism.

  Although not limited to the SED continuous paper double-sided printer, when performing double-sided printing, there are cases where the image data on the back side is rotated by 180 ° in order to match the printing direction on the front side. When performing double-sided printing on such a front and back side image processing device, the back side image processing device executes 180 ° rotation of the image data and transmits it to the print engine when generating the back side image data. The technology to do is already known. However, the front and back image processing apparatuses may be equipped with only an amount of memory that cannot store one image data due to cost limitations.

  When the double-sided printing is performed, the printing engine of the SED continuous paper double-sided printer needs the back side image data to be printed on the back side of the front side immediately after printing starts. However, it is necessary to receive the front side image data of the next page immediately. On the other hand, in the printer controller, the front side image data and the back side image data to be printed on the back side must be generated in order. Since the surface image data generation includes a 180 ° rotation process, the generation of the image data is delayed, so the generation of the front surface image data of the next page is also delayed. As a result, the timing required by the print engine Thus, the image data of the next front page cannot be transmitted, and the image data transfer path may not be used efficiently.

  In Patent Document 2, a page corresponding to the back page is stored in the HDD in order to efficiently perform double-sided printing of print data sent in order from the first page, and the back side is required. A configuration is disclosed in which the page is read from the HDD at the time. However, if the capacity of the image data buffer of the back side image processing apparatus is not increased, the usage efficiency (image data transfer speed) of the image transmission path from the printer controller to the back side image processing apparatus at the time of generating the back side image is lowered.

  An object of the present invention is to increase the image data transfer speed in a continuous paper duplex printer.

(1) The odd-numbered page image data is given from the printer controller 21 to the front side image processing device 27, and the even-numbered page image data to be printed on the back side of the odd-numbered page is delayed corresponding to the printing period of only the front side, and back side image processing is performed. The front side image processing device 27 and the back side image processing device 28 give the front side image processing device 27 and the back side image processing device 28 to process the front side image data and the back side image data. In the continuous paper double-sided printer, the back image of the even page on the back of the odd page is printed on the back of the odd page after the printing period of only the front side.
When the printer controller 21 generates odd page image data and even page image data in page order and generates the even page image data to be the back surface image data, the image data of the next page is not executed without performing 180 ° rotation processing. When the front side image processing device requires surface image data, the generated odd page image data is provided to the front side image processing device, and the back side image processing device requires back side image data. A continuous paper double-sided printer, wherein the generated even-numbered page image data to be the back side image data is rotated 180 ° and given to the back side image processing device at a time.

  (2) When the printer controller 21 generates one page of image data, the printer controller 21 calculates a time until the back side image processing device 28 needs the even-numbered page image data to be output next. If the time required for the 180 ° rotation processing is shorter than that, the next page of image data is generated, and if not, the 180 ° rotation processing of the even-numbered page image data to be output next is executed (1) Continuous paper double-sided printer as described in 1.

  (3) A transmission path for transferring image data from the printer controller 21 to the front surface image processing device 27 and the back surface image processing device 28 is in parallel with the front surface image processing device 27 and the back surface image processing device 28. The continuous paper double-sided printer according to (1) or (2) above, which is a multiplexed transmission path 24 for transferring image data.

  (4) The continuous paper duplex printer according to (3), wherein the multiplexed transmission path 24 is PCI Express.

  (5) The continuous paper double-sided printer has a front side with a paper width size that is approximately ½ of the image forming width of the print engine 29 at approximately ½ width on one side of the image forming width. After printing, the paper is reversed and conveyed in the paper conveyance path and printed using the other half of the other side of the imageable width, and the front side is parallel to the same position in the continuous paper conveyance direction. The continuous paper double-sided printer according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the continuous paper double-sided printer (SED type continuous paper double-sided printer) performs image formation on the back side.

  (6) The continuous paper double-sided printer is a continuous paper double-sided printer in which a pair of printing engines are arranged at different positions in the continuous paper conveyance direction, and a mechanism for reversing the front and back of the continuous paper is interposed between the two printing engines. The continuous paper double-sided printer according to any one of (1) to (4) above.

  For easy understanding, reference numerals of corresponding elements in the embodiments shown in the drawings and described later are added for reference.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, the front side image data is generated more quickly, and the next front side image processing device 27 transmits the next front side image data at a necessary timing. The use efficiency of the image data transfer path can be increased. In particular, this effect is remarkable in the printing period of only the front side immediately after the start of printing.

It is a block diagram which shows the outline | summary of the image data processing system of one Example of this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a flow of output order of each page image data of the printer controller 21 shown in FIG. 1. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of a SED system continuous paper double-sided printer. It is a block diagram which shows the output order of each page image data at the time of duplex printing by the printer controller of the conventional SED system continuous paper duplex printer in a flow. It is a block diagram which shows the image data (page) output order of the front side and back side image processing apparatus of the conventional SED system continuous paper double-sided printer.

  According to the present invention, in the printer controller, odd page image data and even page image data are generated in the order of pages, and when the even page image data serving as the back surface image data is generated, the 180 ° rotation processing is not executed and the next page is not executed. Proceeding to image data generation processing, when the front side image processing device requires surface image data, the generated odd page image data is given to the front side image processing device, and the back side image processing device requires back side image data At this time, the generated even page image data, which becomes the back surface image data, is rotated 180 ° and provided to the back surface image processing apparatus. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an outline of an image forming system of an SED type continuous paper duplex printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. The mechanism of the SED continuous paper duplex printer of this embodiment is the same as that of the conventional example shown in FIG. Similar to the above-described conventional example (FIGS. 3, 4, and 5), the SED continuous paper duplex printer of this embodiment prints the first page and then prints the back side (the first) of the printing section (sheet). There is a delay for printing 6 pages (6 sheets) before the 2 page printing section) reaches the printing stage (drum 3).

  The printer controller 21 converts the print data transmitted from the host (computer) into print image data (image data) for each page. Of the converted image data, the printer controller 21 basically sends image data to be printed on the front side to the front side image processing device 27 and image data to be printed on the back side to the back side image processing device 28. To do.

  The image data transmission path between the printer controller 21 and the front side image processing device 27 and the back side image processing device 28 is a multiplexed data transfer path 24, and the image data to the front side image processing device 27 is data. In 22 of the transfer paths 24, the image data to the back side image processing device 28 can be transferred in parallel at 23. Thereby, high-speed data transfer is possible. The data transfer path 24 may be a plurality of cables physically or a single cable logically separated. In this embodiment, the data transfer path 24 is a PCIe optical cable.

  The front surface image processing device 27 and the back surface image processing device 28 that have received the image data correct the image data to match the image expression characteristics of the printing mechanism of the print engine 29. After completion of the correction, the front surface image processing device 27 and the back surface image processing device 28 notify the process controller 26 of the completion of the processing. The process controller 26 receives the completion of the processing of the front side image processing device 27 and the back side image processing device 28, and issues an instruction to transmit image data to the printing mechanism of the print engine 29, and feeds paper to the printing mechanism. Implement instructions.

  FIG. 2 shows an image data transfer form from the printer controller 21 to the front side / back side image processing devices 27 and 28 at the time of duplex printing job processing in the image processing system shown in FIG. In duplex printing, the printer controller 21 generates print images (image data) from a print job in the order of pages (s1). The generated image data of each page is sequentially stored in a developed page buffer assigned to a large-capacity memory such as an HDD, and is read from the developed page buffer and output to the front side image processing device 27 and the back side image processing device 28. Erase the image data.

  The printer controller 21 generates each page image data without rotation before determining whether 180 ° rotation processing is necessary or not in the image data generation processing (step 1: s1 (hereinafter the same)).

  Next, it is determined whether the expanded page is an odd page or an even page (s2). As a result of the determination, when the developed page is an odd page, the developed image data is output to the front surface image processing device 27 for printing odd pages as it is. On the other hand, if the result of the determination is that the expanded page is an even page, it is determined whether even page image data that requires 180 ° rotation processing remains in the expanded page buffer (s3), and there is no such data. Shifts to image generation for the next page (s3 → s1).

  On the other hand, if image data that needs to be rotated by 180 ° remains in the expanded page buffer, the total time required to rotate all these remaining image data by 180 ° and the time to transmit the first backside image data ( In other words, at the start of printing in the back side image processing device 28, a comparison is made with the time until the deadline time at which the first back side image data transmission processing is required (s4).

  As a result of this comparison, if the 180 ° rotation processing of the image data is performed, it is assumed that there is no room until the transmission time of the back surface image data. Rotation processing is performed, the rotated image data is stored in the even page output buffer allocated to the large-capacity memory such as HDD (s5), and after the rotation of the page image data is completed, the image generation of the next page is started. Transition. The rotated image data in the even page output buffer is output to the back side image processing device 28 when the back side image processing device 28 requests it.

  On the other hand, even if the 180 ° rotation process is performed, there is a time margin until transmission of the first back surface image data (that is, even if the rotation process is performed, there is a time margin for generating page image data for the next page). If it is determined that there is, the process proceeds to image generation for the next page without performing the immediate rotation process (s4 → s1).

  As described above, the printer controller 21 according to the present embodiment does not perform the 180 ° rotation process on the even page image data to be the back surface image in the process of generating the image data (image data), and immediately executes the next sheet (page The odd-numbered page image data to be a front side image is generated, and at the time when the back side image processing device 28 requires even-page image data, the odd-numbered page image data is rotated 180 °.

  As a result, the generation of the image data of the front side, which is the next page, is accelerated, and the front side image processing device 27 transmits the image data of the next front side at a necessary timing, whereby the printer controller 21 and the image processing device 27 are transmitted. , 28 image data transfer paths can be used more efficiently.

  Further, in this embodiment, after printing odd pages, there is a delay of printing for 6 pages (6 sheets) until the odd page and the even numbered page image are printed on the back side of the odd pages (sheets). There is a printing period for only the side. In this printing period, since the back side image is not printed, the odd page image data does not need to be rotated. In this printing period, the printer controller 21 returns from step 4 to s1 and repeatedly executes steps s1 to s4, so that the printer controller 21 outputs odd page image data to the front side image processing device 27 and the page order. Therefore, the printing speed during the printing period of the front side only can be increased.

  When the present invention is implemented, the image forming mechanism 2 is not limited to the mode shown in FIG. 3, and the image forming mechanism 2 may be an electrophotographic system (laser printer), an ink jet printer, or any other type capable of performing wide printing. . Further, instead of performing wide printing with one printer, two printers may be arranged side by side. Further, the drum and the roller may be a wide pair having a long shaft length, and two image forming process elements may be arranged side by side. Further, the present invention is not limited to the SED type continuous paper duplex printer, and a pair of printing engines are arranged at different positions in the continuous paper conveyance direction, and a mechanism for reversing the front and back of the continuous paper is interposed between the two printing engines. It can be similarly applied to a continuous paper duplex printer.

1: Continuous paper 2: Image forming mechanism 3: Drum 4: Roller 5: Reversing roller 6, 7: Return roller 10, 19: Upper host 21: Printer controller 22, 23: Image data transmission path 24: Multiplexed data transfer Path 25: I / F controller 26: Process controller 27: Front side image processing device 28: Back side image processing device 29: Print engine (printing mechanism)

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-2017 JP 2004-216905 A

Claims (6)

Odd page image data is given from the printer controller to the front side image processing device, and even page image data to be printed on the back side of the odd page is given to the back side image processing device with a delay corresponding to the printing period of only the front side. Based on the front image data and the back image data processed by the front side image processing device and the back side image processing device, the print engine prints an odd page front image on the front of the continuous paper, and the even page behind the odd page. In the continuous paper double-sided printer, the back image is printed on the back side of the odd page after the printing period of only the front side.
When the printer controller generates odd page image data and even page image data in page order, and generates the even page image data to be the back surface image data, the printer controller does not execute the 180 ° rotation process, and Proceeding to generation processing, when the front side image processing device needs surface image data, the generated odd page image data is given to the front side image processing device, and the back side image processing device needs back side image data A continuous paper double-sided printer, wherein the generated even-numbered page image data serving as the back side image data is rotated 180 ° and provided to the back side image processing apparatus.   When the printer controller generates one page of image data, the printer controller calculates the time until the back side image processing apparatus needs the even-numbered page image data to be output next, and rotates 180 ° from the time. 2. The continuous paper double-sided according to claim 1, wherein if the time required for processing is short, image data generation of the next page is executed, and if not, the 180 ° rotation processing of the even-numbered page image data to be output next is executed. Printer.   A transmission path for transferring image data from the printer controller to the front side image processing apparatus and the back side image processing apparatus is multiplexed transmission for transferring image data in parallel to the front side image processing apparatus and the back side image processing apparatus. The continuous paper duplex printer according to claim 1, wherein the continuous paper duplex printer is a road.   The continuous paper duplex printer according to claim 3, wherein the multiplexed transmission path is PCI Express.   The continuous paper double-sided printer prints the front side of the paper having a paper width size that is approximately ½ of the image forming width of the print engine at approximately ½ width on one side of the image forming width. Front and back sides are printed in parallel at the same position in the continuous paper transport direction, with the paper transported in the paper transport path and printed using the other half of the image forming width. The continuous paper double-sided printer according to claim 1, wherein the continuous paper double-sided printer performs an image.   The continuous paper double-sided printer is a continuous paper double-sided printer in which a pair of printing engines are arranged at different positions in the continuous paper conveyance direction and a mechanism for reversing the front and back of the continuous paper is interposed between the two printing engines. Item 5. The continuous paper duplex printer according to any one of Items 1 to 4.

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