JP2016068513A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve efficiency of print processing using a print medium with high use frequency.SOLUTION: A printer comprises: a first print medium supply part to which a first print medium is set; a second print medium supply part to which a second print medium is set; a print part which executes printing by discharging liquid to the first print medium or the second print medium; a PG adjustment part which can adjust a PG; a print control part; and a storage part. The print control part makes the PG adjustment part adjust the PG on the basis of the information on the first print medium, makes the storage part store the information on the PG after adjustment, makes the print part execute printing to the second print medium supplied from the second print medium supply part after making the PG adjustment part adjust the PG to be a PG based on the information on the second print medium when the PG based on the information on the second print medium is different from the stored PG in the case of receiving the instruction of printing using the second print medium, and makes the PG adjustment part adjust the PG to be the stored PG after completion of printing to the second print medium.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus.

Printers can execute printing on print media of different types and sizes.
The appropriate value of the platen gap (hereinafter referred to as PG), which is the distance between the platen that supports the print medium supplied during printing and the printing unit that discharges the liquid onto the print medium, varies depending on the print medium.

  Therefore, conventionally (see Patent Documents 1, 2, 3, etc.), when a printer receives a print instruction from the outside, the printer adjusts the PG to a PG corresponding to the print medium specified in the print instruction. Printing was in progress.

JP 2007-102328 A JP 2002-292856 A JP 2004-160877 A

  Even if the printer can execute printing on various print media as described above, the frequency of use often varies depending on the print media. That is, it is assumed that a certain print medium is frequently used on a daily basis, but another print medium is rarely used. In view of this situation, the printer behavior of adjusting the PG to the PG corresponding to the print medium specified in the print instruction every time a print instruction is received is improved from the viewpoint of improving the efficiency of the printing process. It can be said that there is room.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a printing apparatus useful for improving the efficiency of printing processing.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the printing apparatus includes a first print medium supply unit in which a first print medium is set, a second print medium supply unit in which a second print medium is set, A printing unit that performs printing by discharging liquid to a first print medium supplied from a first print medium supply unit or a second print medium supplied from the second print medium supply unit; and the supply A PG adjustment unit capable of adjusting a PG, which is a distance between the platen supporting the first print medium or the second print medium and the printing unit, a print control unit, a determination unit, and a storage unit. The print control unit causes the PG adjustment unit to adjust the PG based on the information of the first print medium, stores the adjusted PG information in the storage unit, and the determination unit includes: When an instruction to print using the second print medium is received, the second mark When it is determined whether a PG based on medium information is different from the stored PG, and the print control unit determines that a PG based on the second print medium information is different from the stored PG In addition, after adjusting the PG so that the PG becomes a PG based on the information of the second print medium, the second PG supplied from the second print medium supply unit to the print unit Printing on the printing medium is executed, and after the printing on the second printing medium is finished, the PG adjusting unit is adjusted so that the PG becomes the stored PG.

  According to this configuration, the printing apparatus stores PG information adjusted based on the information on the first print medium, and prints on the second print medium supplied from the second print medium supply unit. After completion, the PG is returned to the stored PG. Therefore, when the first print medium set in the first print medium supply unit is used for printing, the step of adjusting the PG is unnecessary, and for users who frequently use the first print medium for printing, The efficiency of the printing process is greatly improved.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the printing apparatus includes a detection unit that can detect that a print medium is set in the first print medium supply unit, an operation reception unit that receives an operation from the outside, The print control unit receives the information on the first print medium via the operation reception unit when the detection unit detects that the print medium is set, and the first control unit receives the first print medium information. The PG adjustment unit may adjust the PG based on information on the print medium, and the adjusted PG information may be stored in the storage unit.
According to this configuration, since the PG is adjusted to the PG corresponding to the first print medium before receiving the print instruction for designating the first print medium, the subsequent print processing using the first print medium Is made more efficient.

According to one aspect of the present invention, when the print control unit receives a print instruction using a print medium different from both the first print medium and the second print medium, the print control unit determines whether or not to execute the print. You may make an inquiry to the outside.
According to this configuration, the user can determine whether or not to execute printing with an inappropriate PG.

One of the aspects of the present invention is that the print control unit, in the case where the printing apparatus includes one first print medium supply unit, controls the PG adjustment unit based on information on the first print medium. The adjusted PG information is stored in the storage unit, and after the printing on the second print medium performed immediately after that, the PG adjustment unit adjusts the PG so that it becomes the stored PG. In the case where the printing apparatus includes a plurality of the first print medium supply units, an instruction for printing using the first print medium set in any of the plurality of first print medium supply units is received. The PG adjustment unit adjusts the PG based on the information of the first print medium according to the print instruction, and after the printing on the second print medium performed immediately after that, the current PG is changed. It may be maintained.
That is, when there are a plurality of first print medium supply units, it is assumed that there is no significant difference in the frequency of use thereof, so that each time a print instruction is received, the print medium supply unit is adapted to the information on the print medium. By adjusting PG, the operation of the printing apparatus is prevented from being wasted.

In one aspect of the present invention, the first print medium supply unit may be a paper feed cassette, and the second print medium supply unit may be a manual feed tray for manual printing.
When comparing the paper feed cassette and the manual feed tray, it is assumed that there are more scenes in which the print medium set in the paper feed cassette is used. That is, according to this configuration, when using the first print medium supplied from the paper feed cassette, the trouble of PG adjustment is saved, and the throughput is improved.

  The technical idea of the present invention is not realized only by the invention of a printing apparatus. For example, a process realized by each unit of the printing apparatus can be regarded as a method invention. Further, the present invention may be realized in various categories such as a computer program that causes a hardware to execute such a method, and a computer-readable storage medium that stores the program.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus. The figure which illustrates a part of printing apparatus from the side. 6 is a flowchart according to the first embodiment. The flowchart concerning 2nd Embodiment. The figure which illustrates a part of printing apparatus in case there exist multiple paper feed cassettes from the side.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Outline of device configuration)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating functions of the printing apparatus 10 and the like according to the present embodiment. The printing apparatus 10 is grasped as a product such as a printer or a multifunction peripheral including a printer function. The printing apparatus 10 or a part of the printing apparatus 10 may be called a “printing control apparatus”, an “image processing apparatus”, or the like. Each configuration shown in FIG. 1 is not limited to a single location or a case where the configurations are aggregated in a single case, but a single system is constructed by the presence of these configurations in locations away from each other and being communicable. It may be.

  In FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 10 is illustrated as a configuration including a control unit 20, a communication interface (I / F) 30, an operation reception unit 40, a printing mechanism 50, and the like. The control unit 20 includes, for example, an IC having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and other storage media. In the control unit 20, the CPU executes the arithmetic processing according to the program stored in the ROM using the RAM as a work area, thereby realizing the printing processing by the printing apparatus 10. In this sense, the control unit 20 corresponds to the print control unit described in the claims. The control unit 20 includes a determination unit 22 as a part of the function, and also includes a storage unit 21 corresponding to a part of the RAM or other storage medium.

  The operation accepting unit 40 has an input unit (button, touch panel, etc.) for accepting an operation from the outside (user) and a display unit for showing information related to the printing apparatus 10. The liquid crystal display (LCD) 41 also serves as a part of such an input unit and a part of the display unit.

  The print mechanism 50 is a mechanism for performing printing based on a print job on a print medium. When the printing method employed by the printing mechanism 50 is an ink jet method, the printing mechanism 50 has a printing head 52 that ejects droplets (liquid other than ink or ink) from a plurality of nozzles, a printing head at a certain speed (carriage speed). 52, a carriage 51 that moves the head 52 along a certain direction (main scanning direction), a transport unit 53 that transports the printing medium in a direction (sub-scanning direction) intersecting the certain direction, and a printing medium on which the printing medium before printing is set It has a configuration such as a supply unit 55. The print head 52 is a printing unit that performs printing by discharging liquid onto the print medium as the carriage 51 moves (that is, as the position of the print head 52 changes relative to the print medium).

  In the printing apparatus 10, there are at least two print medium supply units 55. In other words, the print medium supply unit 55 is a generic name including at least a first print medium supply unit and a second print medium supply unit. The transport unit 53 includes a plurality of rollers for supporting and transporting the print medium set in the print medium supply unit 55.

  The printing mechanism 50 may include a PG adjustment unit 54 that can adjust PG, which is the distance between the platen 60 (see FIG. 2) that supports the print medium and the print head 52 (printing unit). The PG adjusting unit 54 may be any means that can adjust the PG as a result. The PG adjusting unit 54 includes, for example, a motor that moves an axis that holds the carriage slidably (movable) in the main scanning direction, as disclosed in the above-described literature 2, and drives the motor. By controlling, PG which is the distance between the platen 60 and the print head 52 can be adjusted. Reference 3 may be referred to for a specific method of PG adjustment.

  As an expression similar to PG (= platen gap), there is also an expression of paper gap. The paper gap refers to the distance between the paper (print medium) supported by the platen 60 and the print head 52 (printing unit), and thus is not equal to the platen gap. However, when the specific method of the PG adjustment by the PG adjustment unit 54 is to change the distance (height) of the print head 52 from the platen 60 in the vertical direction, the paper gap is also changed by changing the height. Since it changes, PG adjustment can be interpreted as adjusting paper gap with PG. The “vertical direction” corresponds to the vertical direction assuming that the printing apparatus 10 is installed on a horizontal plane.

  The communication I / F 30 is a general term for interfaces for connecting the printing apparatus 10 to the external device 100 by wire or wirelessly. Examples of the external device 100 include a PC (personal computer), a smartphone, a tablet terminal, and a digital still camera. The printing apparatus 10 can be connected to the external device 100 via the communication I / F 30 by various means and communication standards such as a USB cable, a wired network, a wireless LAN, a facsimile communication network, and e-mail communication.

  FIG. 2 illustrates a part of the printing apparatus 10 from the side (viewpoint facing the main scanning direction). In the printing apparatus 10, the print medium P <b> 1 (first print medium) is picked up in units of one sheet from the paper feed cassette 55 a in which the print medium P <b> 1 is set, and is supplied to the print head 52. Further, the print medium P2 (second print medium) is picked up in units of one sheet from the paper feed tray 55b in which the print medium P2 is set, and is supplied to the print head 52. The paper feed cassette 55a is an example of a first print medium supply unit, and the paper feed tray 55b is an example of a second print medium supply unit. The print medium is typically paper. However, in this embodiment, any material that can record a liquid and can be transported by the transport unit 53 is included in the concept of the print medium.

  The paper feed cassette 55 a is accommodated in the housing 11 of the printing apparatus 10. The user accommodates the paper feed cassette 55a in the housing 11 by inserting the paper feed cassette 55a in which the bundle of print media P1 is set into the housing 11 of the printing device 10 from the front side of the printing device 10, for example. can do. On the other hand, at least a part of the portion that receives the print medium P2 protrudes from the back side of the printing apparatus 10 to the outside of the housing 11, for example. The print medium P2 can be set (the print medium P2 is manually fed). The paper feed tray 55b is also referred to as a manual feed tray. In the paper feed cassette 55a, a large amount of print media P1 (for example, A4 size plain paper) that is usually used frequently by the user is usually set. On the other hand, a print medium P2 (for example, an envelope or a postcard) that is less frequently used than the print paper P1 is usually manually fed into the paper feed tray 55b in units of one or several sheets.

  A platen 60 is disposed below the print head 52. The discharge surface 52 a of the print head 52 is opposed to the platen 60. The discharge surface 52a is a surface where the nozzle is open. In FIG. 2, the direction perpendicular to the paper surface is the main scanning direction of the print head 52. For example, the platen 60 has a plurality of air inlets (not shown), and by sucking air from the air inlets, the posture of the printing medium conveyed on the platen 60 is stabilized to some extent.

  The transport unit 53 joins the path R1 for transporting the print medium P1, the path R2 for transport of the print medium P2, and the paths R1 and R2, respectively, and the path R3 for transporting the print medium P1 or the print medium P2. , Each of which includes a plurality of rollers that convey while supporting the print medium P1 or the print medium P2. A partial range of the path R3 passes over the platen 60, and at least the partial range of the path R3 faces the sub-scanning direction. The rollers 53a, 53b, and 53c illustrated in FIG. 2 are a part of the rollers for realizing such conveyance, and other rollers (for example, a pickup roller that picks up the print medium P1 from the paper feed cassette 55a, a supply roller) A pickup roller for picking up the print medium P2 from the paper tray 55b, etc.) is omitted as appropriate. Of course, the transport unit 53 includes a motor (not shown) for rotating these rollers, a gear (not shown) for transmitting the power of the motor to each roller, and the like.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 3 is a flowchart (1-a, 1-b, 1-c) illustrating print processing according to the present embodiment.
Explanation of flowchart 1-a:
At the start of the flowchart 1-a, it is assumed that plain paper of a specific size (for example, A4 size) is set as the print medium P1 in the paper feed cassette 55a (see the broken line frame in the flowchart 1-a). Further, it is assumed that PG information described later is not stored at the start of the flowchart 1-a.
In step S100, the control unit 20 receives a print job instructing execution of a print process. The print job includes image data representing an image to be printed, designation of a print medium supply source (such as a paper feed cassette 55a or a paper feed tray 55b), and a print medium used for printing. This is transmitted from the device 100 to the printing apparatus 10. The description of the print job received in step S100 is continued assuming that plain paper (print medium P1) of a specific size supplied from the paper feed cassette 55a is designated as the print medium used for printing.

  In step S110, the control unit 20 (determination unit 22) determines whether PG adjustment is necessary based on the current PG and the PG corresponding to the print job received in step S100. First, the control unit 20 specifies a PG corresponding to a print job, that is, a PG corresponding to a print medium designated by the print job. The correspondence relationship between the print medium and the appropriate PG at the time of printing is stored in advance in a predetermined memory (RAM or the like) in the control unit 20. Therefore, the control unit 20 specifies the PG corresponding to the print medium designated by the print job by referring to the correspondence relationship. Then, if the specified PG does not match the current PG, the control unit 20 determines that PG adjustment is necessary, and proceeds to step S120. On the other hand, if the identified PG matches the current PG, it is determined that PG adjustment is unnecessary, and step S120 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S130.

  In step S120, the control unit 20 controls the PG adjustment unit 54 so that the PG is adjusted to the PG corresponding to the print medium P1 specified by the print job specified in the determination in step S110. . That is, the PG is adjusted based on the information on the print medium designated by the print job.

  In step S130, the control unit 20 causes the storage unit 21 to store the current PG, that is, the PG corresponding to the specific size plain paper (print medium P1) (hereinafter referred to as PG1) as PG information. In the control unit 20, a print medium for storing PG information in the storage unit 21 is set in advance. That is, in the present embodiment, the printing apparatus 10 considers the fact that the frequency of using the specific size plain paper set in the paper feed cassette 55a as the print medium is the highest, and PG1 corresponding to this specific size plain paper. Is stored as PG information in step S130.

  In step S140, the control unit 20 causes printing according to the image data included in the print job received in step S100. That is, by controlling the behavior of the transport unit 53, the carriage 51, and the print head 52 of the printing mechanism 50, the transport (paper feed) of the print medium P 1 from the paper feed cassette 55 a to the print head 52 and the main scanning of the print head 52 are performed. Printing by repeating (liquid ejection accompanying movement by the carriage 51) and conveyance (paper feeding) of the print medium P1, and conveyance (discharge) of the print medium P1 after printing is realized. Since printing based on image data is a general process, detailed description thereof is omitted, but the image data is, for example, bitmap data having RGB (red, green, blue) gradation values for each pixel. . The control unit 20 performs various processing such as resolution conversion processing, color conversion processing, and halftone processing on the image data as necessary, so that print data necessary for controlling the printing mechanism 50 (liquid ejection per pixel) Data that defines non-ejection (dot on / off) can be obtained.

  According to the flowchart 1-a described above, printing on the print medium P1 supplied from the paper feed cassette 55a is completed according to the print job specifying the print medium P1 (step S140). In response to the reception of the print job (step S100), PG1 corresponding to the print medium P1 is stored as PG information (step S130).

The flowcharts 1-b and 1-c are processes executed after the flowchart 1-a.
Explanation of flowchart 1-b:
At the start of the flowchart 1-b, it is assumed that an envelope is set as the print medium P2 in the sheet feed tray 55b manually by the user (see the broken line frame in the flowchart 1-b).
In step S200, the control unit 20 receives a print job instructing execution of a print process. The description of the print job received in step S200 is continued assuming that the envelope (print medium P2) supplied from the paper feed tray 55b is designated as the print medium used for printing.

  In step S210, the control unit 20 (determination unit 22) is based on the current PG and the PG corresponding to the print job received in step S200 (the PG identified as corresponding to the print medium designated by the print job). Thus, it is determined whether PG adjustment is necessary. If the specified PG does not match the current PG, it is determined that PG adjustment is necessary, and the process proceeds to step S220. On the other hand, if the specified PG matches the current PG, it is determined that PG adjustment is unnecessary, and step S220 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S230. At the time of the determination in step S210, the “current PG” is the PG1, and the PG corresponding to the print job received in step S200 is a PG (hereinafter referred to as PG2) corresponding to the envelope (print medium P2). It will progress to step S220.

  In step S220, the control unit 20 controls the PG adjustment unit 54 to adjust the PG to be the PG specified in the determination in step S210 (the PG corresponding to the print job received in step S200). . That is, PG is changed from PG1 to PG2. Incidentally, since the envelope as the print medium P2 is thicker than the plain paper as the print medium P1, the relationship of PG1 <PG2 is established.

  In step S230, the control unit 20 causes printing according to the image data included in the print job received in step S200. That is, by controlling the behavior of the transport unit 53, the carriage 51, and the print head 52 of the printing mechanism 50, the transport (feed) of the print medium P2 from the paper feed tray 55b to the print head 52 and the main scanning of the print head 52 are performed. And printing of the print medium P2 (paper feed) are repeatedly performed, and the print medium P2 is conveyed (discharged) after the printing is completed.

  In step S <b> 240, the control unit 20 controls the PG adjustment unit 54 to adjust PG to be PG <b> 1 indicated by the PG information stored in the storage unit 21. That is, PG is changed from PG2 to PG1.

  According to the flowchart 1-b described above, printing on the print medium P2 supplied from the paper feed tray 55b is completed according to the print job designating the print medium P2 (step S230). Further, PG is temporarily changed from PG1 to PG2 for printing on the print medium P2 (step S220), and is returned to PG1 after the printing is finished (step S240).

Description of flowchart 1-c:
In step S300, the control unit 20 receives a print job instructing execution of print processing. The description of the print job received in step S300 is continued assuming that plain paper (print medium P1) of a specific size supplied from the paper feed cassette 55a is designated as the print medium used for printing.

  In step S310, the control unit 20 (determination unit 22) is based on the current PG and the PG corresponding to the print job received in step S300 (the PG identified as corresponding to the print medium designated by the print job). Thus, it is determined whether PG adjustment is necessary. If the specified PG does not match the current PG, it is determined that PG adjustment is necessary, and the process proceeds to step S320. On the other hand, if the specified PG matches the current PG, it is determined that PG adjustment is unnecessary, and step S320 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S330. Whether the flowchart 1-c is executed before the flowchart 1-b or after the flowchart 1-b, at the time of the determination in step S310, the “current PG” is Must be PG1. The PG corresponding to the print job received in step S300 is also PG1. Therefore, the process proceeds from step S310 to step S330, and step S320 is not executed.

  In step S330, the control unit 20 causes printing (printing on the print medium P1 supplied from the paper feed cassette 55a) according to the image data included in the print job received in step S300.

  According to the flowchart 1-c described above, printing on the print medium P1 supplied from the paper feed cassette 55a is completed according to the print job designating the print medium P1 (step S330).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the printing apparatus 10 receives the print job specifying the print medium P1 supplied from the frequently used paper feed cassette 55a as a trigger, and uses the PG as the print medium P1. The corresponding PG1 is adjusted, and the information of the PG1 is stored in the storage unit 21. Then, after the storage process, when a print job specifying the print medium P2 supplied from the paper feed tray 55b with low usage frequency is received, the PG is adjusted to P2 for printing on the print medium P2, After printing on the print medium P2, PG is returned to the stored PG1. Therefore, as described in the flowchart 1-c, after the storage process, when a print job specifying the print medium P1 is received, the PG adjustment (step S320) before execution of printing becomes unnecessary, and the efficiency of the print process is increased. Will improve. That is, the throughput of print processing using the print medium P1 is improved.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment (first embodiment), and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. For example, embodiments described below can be employed. is there. A configuration in which each embodiment is appropriately combined also falls within the disclosure scope of the present invention. In the following description of the embodiment, the description of matters common to the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 4 is a flowchart (2-a, 2-b, 2-c) illustrating the printing process according to the second embodiment.
Explanation of flowchart 2-a:
Similarly to the flowchart 1-a (FIG. 3), it is assumed that plain paper of a specific size (for example, A4 size) is set as the print medium P1 in the paper feed cassette 55a at the start of the flowchart 2-a (flowchart 2- (Refer to a broken-line frame of a). It is assumed that no PG information is stored at the start of the flowchart 2-a.

  In step S <b> 400, the control unit 20 controls the operation receiving unit 40 when a detection signal is input from the detection unit 70 (see FIG. 2), and a user interface (UI) screen for inputting information on the LCD 41. To pop up. The detection unit 70 is a sensor that can detect that a print medium is set in the paper feed cassette 55a. That is, the control unit 20 displays the UI screen on the LCD 41 at the timing when the printing medium is set in the paper feeding cassette 55a by the detection signal from the detection unit 70.

The user inputs information on the print medium (print medium P1) set in the paper feed cassette 55a through the UI screen displayed on the LCD 41. In this case, the user inputs the paper type (plain paper) and size (specific size) of the print medium P1 set in the paper feed cassette 55a.
In step S410, the control unit 20 receives information on the print medium P1 input through the operation receiving unit 40 (LCD 41) in this way.

  In step S420, the control unit 20 specifies the PG corresponding to the print medium P1 according to the information of the print medium P1 received in step S410. Then, the specified PG, that is, PG1 corresponding to the specific size plain paper (print medium P1) is stored in the storage unit 21 as PG information. However, the timing for storing the PG information may be after PG adjustment (after step S440 described later).

  In step S430, the control unit 20 (determination unit 22) determines whether PG adjustment is necessary based on the current PG and the PG specified in step S420. If the specified PG does not match the current PG, it is determined that PG adjustment is necessary, and the process proceeds to step S440. On the other hand, if the specified PG matches the current PG, it is determined that PG adjustment is not necessary, and step S440 is skipped, and the flowchart 2-a ends.

In step S440, the control unit 20 controls the PG adjustment unit 54 so that the PG is adjusted to the PG (PG1) corresponding to the print medium P1 specified in step S420.
With respect to the PG corresponding to the print medium (print medium P1) set in the paper feed cassette 55a by the detection of the print medium set in the paper feed cassette 55a (step S400) by the flowchart 2-a described above. PG information is stored (step S420), and PG is adjusted to PG (PG1) corresponding to the print medium (print medium P1) set in the paper feed cassette 55a (step S440).

The flowcharts 2-b and 2-c are processes executed after the flowchart 2-a.
Explanation of flowchart 2-b:
At the start of the flowchart 2-b, it is assumed that an envelope is set as the print medium P2 in the paper feed tray 55b manually by the user.
The flowchart 2-b has the same contents as the flowchart 1-b (FIG. 3). That is, in step S500, the control unit 20 receives a print job instructing execution of a print process while designating an envelope (print medium P2) supplied from the paper feed tray 55b as a print medium used for printing.
In step S510, the control unit 20 (determination unit 22) is based on the current PG and the PG corresponding to the print job received in step S500 (the PG identified as corresponding to the print medium designated by the print job). It is determined whether PG adjustment is necessary. If the specified PG does not match the current PG, it is determined that PG adjustment is necessary, and the process proceeds to step S520. On the other hand, if the identified PG matches the current PG, it is determined that PG adjustment is unnecessary, and step S520 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S530. At the time of the determination in step S510, the “current PG” is the PG1, and the PG corresponding to the print job received in step S500 is PG2 corresponding to the envelope (print medium P2), so the process proceeds to step S520. It becomes.

In step S520, the control unit 20 controls the PG adjusting unit 54 to adjust the PG to be the PG specified in the determination in step S510 (the PG corresponding to the print job received in step S500). . That is, PG is changed from PG1 to PG2.
In step S530, the control unit 20 causes printing (printing on the print medium P2 supplied from the paper feed tray 55b) according to the image data included in the print job received in step S500.
In step S540, the control unit 20 controls the PG adjustment unit 54 to adjust the PG to be PG1 indicated by the PG information stored in the storage unit 21. That is, PG is changed from PG2 to PG1.

Explanation of flowchart 2-c:
The flowchart 2-c has the same contents as the flowchart 1-c (FIG. 3). In other words, in step S600, the control unit 20 designates a print job instructing execution of a print process while designating a specific size of plain paper (print medium P1) supplied from the paper feed cassette 55a as a print medium used for printing. Receive.
In step S610, the control unit 20 (determination unit 22) is based on the current PG and the PG corresponding to the print job received in step S600 (the PG identified as corresponding to the print medium designated by the print job). , It is determined whether PG adjustment is necessary. If the specified PG does not match the current PG, it is determined that PG adjustment is necessary, and the process proceeds to step S620. On the other hand, if the specified PG matches the current PG, it is determined that PG adjustment is unnecessary, and step S620 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S630. Whether the flowchart 2-c is executed before the flowchart 2-b or after the flowchart 2-b, at the time of the determination in step S610, the “current PG” is Must be PG1. The PG corresponding to the print job received in step S600 is also PG1. Therefore, the process proceeds from step S610 to step S630.
In step S630, the control unit 20 causes printing (printing on the print medium P1 supplied from the paper feed cassette 55a) corresponding to the image data included in the print job received in step S600.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the printing apparatus 10 prints on the paper feed cassette 55a before receiving a print job specifying the print medium P1 supplied from the paper feed cassette 55a that is frequently used. When the medium P1 is set, PG is adjusted to a value (PG1) corresponding to the print medium P1, and the PG1 is stored in the storage unit 21 as PG information. Similarly to the first embodiment, after the storage process, when the PG is adjusted to P2 for printing on the printing medium P2 supplied from the paper feeding tray 55b that is used less frequently, the printing medium P2 is used. After printing is completed, PG is returned to the stored PG1. Therefore, as described in the flowchart 2-c, after the storage process, when a print job specifying the print medium P1 is received, the PG adjustment (step S620) before execution of printing becomes unnecessary, and the efficiency of the print process is increased. Will improve. That is, the throughput of print processing using the print medium P1 is improved.

(Third embodiment)
When receiving an instruction for printing using a printing medium different from both the printing medium P1 and the printing medium P2, the control unit 20 may inquire the outside whether or not printing can be performed. For example, the print job received in step S300 (FIG. 3) of the flowchart 1-c and step S600 (FIG. 4) of the flowchart 2-c instructs the sheet feeding cassette 55a to feed paper from the sheet feeding cassette 55a. Assume that a print medium (for example, glossy paper of a specific size) different from the actually set print medium P1 (plain paper of a specific size) is designated. In the third embodiment, the control unit 20 recognizes in advance the type and size of the print medium actually set in the paper feed cassette 55a and the paper feed tray 55b (for example, a user via the operation accepting unit 40). Based on the input from). In such a case, the control unit 20 causes the LCD 41 to display a display (inquiry) for selecting whether to continue or stop printing according to the print job. The user operates the operation reception unit 40 to select whether to continue or cancel printing through the display of the inquiry.

  When the control unit 20 accepts the selection to cancel printing, the control unit 20 ends the flowchart 1-c or the flowchart 2-c at that time. On the other hand, when the control unit 20 receives the selection to continue printing, for example, the control unit 20 inquires of the user whether or not PG adjustment is necessary (inquires via the LCD 41). In response to the inquiry about the necessity of PG adjustment, the user adopts the current PG (= PG1) as it is (PG adjustment is not required) or adjusts to a PG corresponding to the print medium designated by the print job ( PG adjustment is required) and the result of the selection is input by operating the operation reception unit 40. The control unit 20 branches step S310 and step S610 according to the selection input in this way. Of course, before the user performs printing after adjusting the PG, the print medium in the paper feed cassette 55a is set to the print medium designated by the current print job (glossy paper of a specific size). ). According to the third embodiment, when an incorrect print job is transmitted in comparison with the print medium set in the printing apparatus 10, the behavior of the printing apparatus 10 thereafter is left to the user's judgment. Can do.

(Fourth embodiment)
The user can add a sheet feeding cassette 55a to the printing apparatus 10. That is, in the printing apparatus 10, when there is one paper feed cassette 55a (when the paper feed cassette 55a is not added), when there are two or more paper feed cassettes 55a (when the paper feed cassette 55a is added). If there is).

  FIG. 5 illustrates a case where the print medium 10 includes a plurality of paper feed cassettes 55a (55a1, 55a2, 55a3). The print media P1 (P11, P12, P13) held by the paper feed cassettes 55a1, 55a2, and 55a3 may be the same print media or different print media. If the print media P11, P12, and P13 held by the paper feed cassettes 55a1, 55a2, and 55a3 are different from each other, the appropriate PG for printing also differs for each of the print media P11, P12, and P13.

Therefore, when the printing apparatus 10 includes one first print medium supply unit, the control unit 20 stores the PG information adjusted by the PG adjustment unit 54 based on the information about the first print medium in the storage unit 21. After the printing on the second print medium performed immediately after that, the PG adjustment unit 54 adjusts the PG so as to be the stored PG, while the printing apparatus 10 supplies the first print medium. In the case where a plurality of units are provided, when a print instruction using the first print medium set in any of the plurality of first print medium supply units is received, the first print medium according to the print instruction Based on the information, the PG adjustment unit 54 adjusts the PG, and the current PG is maintained after the printing on the second print medium immediately after that is completed.
In other words, the control unit 20 performs the processing described in each of the embodiments so far when there is one sheet feeding cassette 55a depending on whether or not the sheet feeding cassette 55a is added to the current printing apparatus 10 (FIG. 3). 4). On the other hand, when there are a plurality of paper feed cassettes 55a, the control unit 20 causes the PG adjustment unit 54 to notify the PG adjustment unit 54 of the print medium (for example, the print media P11, P11) designated by the print job every time a print job is received. P12, P13, or P2) is adjusted so that the PG corresponds to one of the print media (any one of the print media P11, P12, P13, and P2) specified by the print job after the PG adjustment. The paper is fed from either the paper feed cassette 55a (55a1, 55a2, 55a3) or the paper feed tray 55b, and printing is performed on the supplied print medium.

  When there are a plurality of paper feed cassettes 55a, it is expected that there is no clear difference in the usage frequency between the paper feed cassettes 55a. Therefore, when there are a plurality of paper feed cassettes 55a, the PG information corresponding to the print medium P1 of any one of the paper feed cassettes 55a is stored in the storage unit 21 or after the end of printing using another print medium. Returning the PG according to the stored PG information is likely to be useless. Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, when there are a plurality of paper feed cassettes 55a, every time a print job is received, adjustment is made to the PG corresponding to the print medium designated by the print job, and processing is not wasted. I am doing so.

(Other embodiments)
So far, the printing apparatus 10 has been described on the assumption that the printing head 52 is a model of a type in which the print head 52 is mounted on the carriage 51 and moves in the main scanning direction, that is, a so-called serial printer. However, the printing apparatus 10 may be a so-called line printer that does not have the carriage 51 but has a fixed line-type print head 52 (line head). The line head is a print head in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged over a range substantially corresponding to the width of the print medium in a direction corresponding to the main scanning direction. In a line printer, a line head that is stationary by itself discharges a liquid onto a print medium that is transported on a platen by a transport unit 53. When it is assumed that the printing apparatus 10 is a line printer, the PG adjusting unit 54 changes PG that is the distance between the line head and the platen.

  Further, the expression “adjusting PG” includes not only adjusting the position of the print head 52 but also adjusting the position of the platen and adjusting the positions of the print head 52 and the platen. Also good.

  The direction in which the paper feed tray 55b corresponding to the second print medium supply unit protrudes from the housing 11 is not limited to the back side, and may be the front side or any other direction. In addition, the second print medium supply unit also includes a tray that is inserted into the housing 11 with the optical disc mounted thereon, for example, so-called label printing on an optical disc (CD, DVD, Blu-ray disc, etc.). included. In other words, the optical disk that is printed on the tray in a single unit and is label-printed is included in the concept of the print medium P2 because it is less frequently used than paper sheets set in a large amount in the paper feed cassette 55a.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Printing apparatus, 11 ... Housing | casing, 20 ... Control part, 21 ... Memory | storage part, 22 ... Determination part, 30 ... Communication I / F, 40 ... Operation reception part, 41 ... LCD, 50 ... Printing mechanism, 51 ... Carriage , 52 ... print head, 52a ... discharge surface, 53 ... transport unit, 53a, 53b, 53c ... roller, 54 ... PG adjustment unit, 55 ... print medium supply unit, 55a, 55a1, 55a2, 55a3 ... paper feed cassette, 55b ... Paper feed tray, 60 ... Platen, 70 ... Detector, 100 ... External device, P1, P11, P12, P13, P2 ... Print medium

Claims (5)

A first print medium supply unit in which a first print medium is set;
A second print medium supply unit in which a second print medium is set;
A printing unit that performs printing by discharging liquid to the first print medium supplied from the first print medium supply unit or the second print medium supplied from the second print medium supply unit;
A PG adjusting unit capable of adjusting a platen gap, which is a distance between the printing unit and a platen that supports the supplied first or second printing medium;
A print control unit;
A determination unit;
A storage unit,
The print control unit causes the PG adjustment unit to adjust the platen gap based on the information on the first print medium, and stores the adjusted platen gap information in the storage unit,
The determination unit determines whether a platen gap based on information on the second print medium is different from the stored platen gap when receiving an instruction to print using the second print medium,
When it is determined that the platen gap based on the information of the second print medium is different from the stored platen gap, the print control unit causes the PG adjustment unit to set the platen gap to the second print medium. After adjusting the platen gap based on information, the printing unit is caused to execute printing on the second print medium supplied from the second print medium supply unit, and the second print medium is transferred to the second print medium. The printing apparatus is characterized in that after the printing is finished, the PG adjusting unit adjusts the platen gap to be the stored platen gap. A detection unit capable of detecting that a print medium is set in the first print medium supply unit;
An operation receiving unit for receiving an operation from the outside,
The print control unit receives information on the first print medium via the operation reception unit when the detection unit detects that a print medium is set, and information on the first print medium The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the platen gap is adjusted by the PG adjustment unit based on the information, and information on the platen gap after the adjustment is stored in the storage unit.   When the print control unit receives an instruction to print using a print medium that is different from both the first print medium and the second print medium, the print control unit inquires of the outside whether or not printing can be performed. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The print control unit
When the printing apparatus includes one first print medium supply unit, information on the platen gap adjusted by the PG adjustment unit based on the information on the first print medium is stored in the storage unit, After the end of printing on the second print medium performed immediately after that, the PG adjusting unit is adjusted so that the platen gap becomes the stored platen gap,
When the printing apparatus includes a plurality of the first print medium supply units, when receiving an instruction for printing using the first print medium set in any of the plurality of first print medium supply units, The platen gap is adjusted by the PG adjusting unit based on the information of the first print medium according to the print instruction, and after the printing on the second print medium performed immediately thereafter, the current platen gap is The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is maintained.   The first print medium supply unit is a paper feed cassette, and the second print medium supply unit is a manual feed tray for manual printing. Printing device.

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