JP2017177725A - Printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing apparatus for printing on a page-by-page basis, which reduces loss of time in operation even when an image buffer and a print data buffer are provided.SOLUTION: A CPU 32 of a printer 1 executes the following processes including: a development enhancement process, for which the CPU determines, at a first timing before the printing of the current page ends, whether or not buffer development of the next-page image data has completed, and if not, the CPU increases the value of n in a development process in one print period; a second determination process, for which the CPU assumes, upon completion of the next-page image data development, buffer development of the next-page print data begins, and then at a second timing, the CPU determines on an estimation basis whether the printing of the current page continues; a termination control process, for which the CPU, when the printing of the current page has ended, terminates conveyance after the print formation for the current page ends; and a continuation control process, for which the CPU, when the printing of the current page is continuing or when the image data development of the next page has completed, begins the printing of the next page after the printing of the current page ended.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that performs printing on a plurality of pages of a printing medium.

  A printing apparatus that prints on a plurality of pages of a medium to be printed is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this prior art, the printing means (printing mechanism unit) forms a print on the print medium (printing paper) conveyed by the conveying means (pre-processing apparatus and post-processing apparatus). The printing medium includes a plurality of pages, and the printing unit executes a printing process for each of the plurality of pages. At this time, the printing apparatus includes a buffer, and the time required for the bitmap development processing for each page in the buffer is accumulated, and it is determined whether or not continuous printing of a plurality of pages is possible. Specifically, continuous printing is possible when the accumulated printing time for printing up to the previous page is longer than the accumulated processing time for performing bitmap development processing up to a certain page. Determined.

JP 2007-276144 A

  In the above prior art, it is assumed that the memory capacity required for the buffer for performing the bitmap expansion process can be sufficiently large. However, some printing apparatuses cannot take up memory capacity due to restrictions such as device layout and space. In such a printing apparatus (for example, a tape printing apparatus, a roll paper printing apparatus, a print label producing apparatus, etc.), for example, two image buffers and a print data buffer are provided so that the printing process can be executed as quickly as possible. There is.

  That is, an image buffer that consumes a large amount of memory capacity is provided in the low-speed access area, for example, while a print data buffer is provided in the high-speed access area. The received image data is first expanded in the image buffer, while the print data corresponding to the image data is expanded in the print data buffer, and the printing means performs print formation with reference to the print data in the print data buffer. Do. Specifically, during one printing cycle, the printing unit is energized according to the printing data of the current page, and in parallel with this, the image data of the next page is transferred to the image buffer by n printing lines (n is 1). (Integer). In this way, the printing process is executed in units of pages while simultaneously developing the buffer of the image data of the next page and printing the current page in parallel.

  By the way, a motor normally used for driving the conveying means may not be able to start and stop suddenly due to a large inertia. In such a case, normally, at the start of the printing process of each page (while synchronizing with the print forming operation by the printing means), a so-called through-up process is performed to gradually accelerate from the stopped state to a steady speed, and print At the end of the process (so as to synchronize with the print forming operation by the printing means), a so-called through-down process is performed in which the vehicle is gradually decelerated from the steady speed and stopped. As a result of such processing, when the printing process is simply performed in order for each page, through-up processing in a printing process for a certain page → print formation at a steady speed → through-down processing, the next Through-up processing of the page printing process → Print formation at steady speed → Through-down processing, etc. Through-through processing and through-down processing are performed every time, and there may be a large time loss. It was.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus that performs print formation for each page of a multi-page printing medium, even if two image buffers and a print data buffer are provided due to restrictions. An object of the present invention is to provide a configuration that can reduce the occurrence of a large loss.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a conveying means for conveying a printing medium, an image buffer in which received image data is expanded, and print data corresponding to the image data expanded in the image buffer. A print data buffer in which the print data is developed, a print unit that forms a print on the print medium based on the print data developed in the print data buffer, and a control unit, and the print unit includes the transport A plurality of heating elements that are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the means and that form at least each dot on each print line obtained by dividing the print medium in the transport direction into print resolutions. In the printing process that the transport unit and the printing unit sequentially perform with respect to a plurality of pages of the medium to be printed, In the character cycle, energization processing for energizing the printing means in accordance with the print data of the current page, and the image data of the next page of the current page are transferred to the image buffer by n print lines (n is a specific number of 1 or more). And an expansion process that performs expansion in units of integers, wherein the control unit further includes the next page at a predetermined first timing before the printing process for the current page is completed. The first determination process for determining whether or not the development of the image data to the image buffer is completed, and the first determination process determines that the development of the image data of the next page is not completed. Expansion in which the value of n is increased in the expansion process executed together with the energization process during the one printing cycle. When it is assumed that, after the expansion enhancement process is started, expansion of the print data of the next page corresponding to the completion of expansion of the image data of the next page is started to the print data buffer, Thereafter, at a predetermined second timing, a second determination process for predicting whether or not the printing process for the current page is continued, and the second determination process, and the second page for the current page at the second timing. Stop control for stopping conveyance of the conveying unit after completion of formation of the printing corresponding to the print data of the current page by the printing unit when it is predicted that the printing process has been completed without continuing The printing process for the current page is continued at the second timing by the processing and the second determination processing. Or when it is determined by the first determination process that the development of the image data of the next page has been completed, the print means corresponds to the print data of the current page. After the completion of the print formation, a continuation control process is executed, in which the printing unit continuously starts forming the print corresponding to the print data of the next page without stopping the conveyance of the conveyance unit. It is characterized by doing.

  In the printing apparatus of the present invention, the printing unit forms a print on the print medium conveyed by the conveying unit. The printing medium includes a plurality of pages, and the transport unit and the printing unit execute a printing process for each of the plurality of pages in cooperation with each other based on the control of the control unit.

  At this time, in the present invention, for example, an image buffer and a print data buffer are provided so that the printing process can be executed as quickly as possible even when the memory capacity cannot be increased due to restrictions such as device layout and space. . The received image data is first expanded in the image buffer, while print data corresponding to the image data is created and expanded in the print data buffer. The printing means refers to the print data in the print data buffer. Print formation is performed. Specifically, in one print cycle, print data for the current page is created and expanded into print buffer data, and the printing means is energized accordingly (= energization processing), while at the same time Then, the image data of the next page is developed into the image buffer by n print lines (n is an integer of 1 or more) (= development process). In this way, in the present invention, the printing process is executed in units of pages while the buffer development of the image data of the next page and the print formation of the current page are simultaneously performed in parallel.

  In the present invention, according to the situation of the current page print formation and the next page image data buffer development performed in parallel as described above, as much as possible (through the printing process of each page. By omitting down processing and through-up processing, it is possible to continuously perform print formation at a steady speed for each page. That is, the control means determines whether or not the development of the image data of the next page to the image buffer has been completed at a predetermined timing (first timing) immediately before the printing process for the current page is completed (first timing). 1 determination process). If this determination is satisfied, the through-down process (related to the current page) and the through-up process (related to the next page) as described above are sandwiched during the transition from the printing process of the current page to the printing process of the next page. In other words, it is considered that it is possible to shift directly from the print formation at the steady speed of the current page to the print formation at the steady speed of the next page. As a result, after completion of the printing corresponding to the print data of the current page by the printing unit, the printing unit continues printing corresponding to the printing data of the next page without stopping the conveyance of the conveying unit (= non-stop). Formation begins.

  However, even in this case, if the development of the image buffer of the image data of the next page is not completed at the first timing before the end of the printing process of the current page, the determination of the first determination process is performed. Is not satisfied, as described above, steady-state print formation in the current page printing process → through-down processing → through-up processing in the next page printing process → print formation at steady speed →. Loss will occur.

  Therefore, in the present invention, even when the determination of the first determination process is not satisfied, the expansion enhancement process is executed by the control means, and the expansion performed together with the energization process during one printing cycle as described above. In the processing, the value of n (number of print lines developed in the image buffer in one cycle) is increased. As a result, the image data can be buffered with a larger number of lines than before, so that the development of the image data of the next page to the image buffer can be accelerated, and the process for the current page can be increased by increasing the print cycle. The end time of the printing process can be delayed.

  In the present invention, as a result of the early completion of the buffer expansion and the delay of the end of the print process as described above, when the print process for the current page actually ends, the image data of the next page is transferred to the image buffer. Increase the chances of completing the deployment. Correspondingly, in the present invention, if it is assumed that the development of the print data of the next page into the print data buffer is started immediately after the development of the image data of the next page is completed, (= Second timing; for example, timing when print data of a predetermined number of lines is expected to be developed in the print data buffer), it is predicted and determined whether or not the printing process for the current page is still continued ( Second determination process).

  When this determination is satisfied, due to the effect of the early completion of the buffer expansion and the delay of the end of the print process, when the print process for the current page actually ends, the image data of the next page is transferred to the image buffer. Is considered complete. Then, after the print formation by the print data of the current page by the printing means is completed, the printing by the print data of the next page by the printing means is started as it is without stopping the conveyance of the conveyance means (continuation control process). As a result, as described above, non-stop printing can be performed and time loss can be prevented.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when printing is performed for each page of a multi-page print medium, even if two images buffer and print data buffer are provided due to restrictions, It is possible to reduce occurrence of time loss in operation.

  According to the present invention, in a printing apparatus that performs print formation for each page of a plurality of pages of a printing medium, even if two of an image buffer and a print data buffer are provided due to restrictions, the operation time Generation of a large loss can be reduced.

1 is a system configuration diagram illustrating a state in which a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected to a personal computer. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a printer. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which represents conceptually the breakdown of the various processes performed in 1 printing cycle. It is explanatory drawing showing the time-dependent processing content of the image buffer, the print data buffer, and the drive part in the comparative example which performs the non-stop printing of the conventional method. It is explanatory drawing showing the time-dependent processing content of the image buffer, the print data buffer, and the drive part in embodiment. It is explanatory drawing showing the time-dependent processing content of the image buffer, the print data buffer, and the drive part in embodiment. It is a flowchart showing the process sequence which the data control part of CPU performs. It is a flowchart showing the process sequence which the drive control part of CPU performs.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Schematic configuration of printer>
A schematic configuration of a printing system including a printer 1 (corresponding to a printing apparatus) of the present embodiment is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 forms a printing system 101 by being connected to a personal computer 111 via a USB cable L. In this example, the printer 1 is a so-called label printer that performs printing on a print-receiving tape 2 (corresponding to a print-receiving medium). In this example, the personal computer 111 is a desktop computer that functions as a host of the printing system 101 and includes a main body 112, a display 113, a keyboard 114, a mouse 115, and the like.

<Internal configuration of printer>
Next, the electrical configuration of the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 1 includes an input / output interface 31, a CPU 32, a ROM 33, a RAM 34, and a FLASH / ROM 36.

  The input / output interface 31 includes an operation key 51, a display controller (hereinafter referred to as “LCDC”) 52, two drive circuits 54 and 56, a USB port P, the CPU 32, the ROM 33, and the RAM 34. The FLASH ROM 36 is connected.

  The operation key 51 inputs a control signal for causing various desired operations to the CPU 32 by a user operation. The LCDC 52 is connected to the LCD 53, and the LCD 52 includes a display RAM (not shown) for displaying display data on the LCD 53.

  The drive circuit 54 is connected to a thermal head 55 (corresponding to printing means), and drives the thermal head 55 when printing data is printed on the print-receiving tape 2. The thermal head 55 includes a plurality of heating elements arranged in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the print-receiving tape 2. These heating elements form each dot on each print line formed by dividing the print-receiving tape 2 into print resolution in the transport direction.

  The drive circuit 56 is connected to a tape feed motor 57, which is a pulse motor, for driving a transport roller (not shown; corresponding to transport means) that transports the print-receiving tape 2, and feeds the print-receiving tape 2 to the outside. At this time, the tape feed motor 57 is driven.

  A connector C of the USB cable L is attached to and detached from the USB port P. Accordingly, by inserting the connector C of the USB cable L into the USB port P, the personal computer 111 can be connected to the printer 1 by USB.

  The ROM 33 stores various control programs other than printing related information.

  The RAM 34 is provided with a work area when the CPU 32 executes various control programs. Specifically, an image buffer 342 in which image data received from the personal computer 111 is expanded and a print data buffer 341 in which print data corresponding to the image data expanded in the image buffer 342 are expanded are provided. Yes. The “image data” referred to here is a bit map expanded print content formed on a medium to be printed (in this example, the tape 2 to be printed). It includes data for controlling energization energy in order to form data with high quality on a printing medium (printing tape 2 in this example).

  The FLASH / ROM 36 stores a print-related control program 37, a management table 39, and the like, and further includes a normal storage area 40. In the normal storage area 40, an application program storage area 41 and the like are provided.

  The CPU 32 executes each program described below with reference to FIGS. In this example, the CPU 32 includes a data control unit 32A and a drive control unit 32B.

  The data control unit 32A executes an energization process and a development process in parallel during a printing process in which the tape feed motor 57 and the thermal head 55 are sequentially performed on a plurality of pages of the tape 2 to be printed (in detail). Later).

  The drive control unit 32B operates the drive circuits 54 and 56, etc., and prints the print data written in the print data buffer 341 on the print-receiving tape 2 by the thermal head 55, while bringing the print-receiving tape 2 to the outside. Discharge.

<Features of the embodiment>
In the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, the thermal head 55 forms a print on the print-receiving tape 2 conveyed by the conveyance roller. At this time, the print-receiving tape 2 includes a plurality of pages, and the transport roller 7 and the thermal head 55 are linked with each other based on the control of the data control unit 32A and the drive control unit 32B of the CPU 32. The printing process is executed for each of the pages. The feature of this embodiment is the content of so-called non-stop printing performed in the printing process over a plurality of pages. Hereinafter, the details will be described in order.

<Image buffer and print data buffer>
In the present embodiment, for example, a configuration in which the memory capacity cannot be increased due to constraints such as device layout and space is provided in the RAM 34 (so that the printing process can be executed as quickly as possible even if there are such limitations). As described above, the image buffer 342 and the print data buffer 341 are provided. That is, the image buffer 342 that consumes a large amount of memory is provided in the low-speed access area, and the print data buffer 341 is provided in the high-speed access area. The image data received from the personal computer 111 is first expanded in the image buffer 342, while print data corresponding to the image data is created and expanded in the print data buffer 341. The thermal head 55 is connected to the print data buffer 341. The print formation is performed with reference to the print data (see FIGS. 6 and 5 to be described later). Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 3A, in one printing cycle, print data for the current page is created and developed into print buffer data 341, and the thermal head 55 is energized accordingly. On the other hand, in parallel with this, the image data of the next page of the current page (hereinafter simply referred to as “next page” as appropriate) is transferred to the image buffer 342 by n print lines (n is a specific number of 1 or more). In this example, for example, n = 1) is developed (= the above development process) In this way, in the present embodiment, the buffer development of the image data of the next page and the print formation of the current page are simultaneously performed. While being performed in parallel, the printing process is executed in units of pages.

<Through-up and through-down>
Here, the tape feed motor 57 for driving the transport roller has a property that it cannot be started and stopped suddenly due to its large inertia. Therefore, normally, at the start of the printing process for each page, a well-known through-up process, that is, a tape feed motor that gradually accelerates from the stopped state to a steady speed while synchronizing with the print forming operation by the thermal head 55. The ratio of the number of pulse signal outputs to 57 and the number of line print data (divided into one print line unit) (= pulse / dot ratio) is kept constant while the tape feed motor 57 A process of accelerating the speed from the stop state to the steady speed is performed. Similarly, at the end of the printing process, a known through-down process in which the thermal head 55 is gradually decelerated from the steady speed while being synchronized with the print forming operation by the thermal head 55, that is, the pulse / dot ratio is set to a constant ratio. The process of changing the speed of the tape feed motor 57 from the steady speed to the stop state is performed.

  However, if the above printing process (including through-up, steady speed, through-down, and stopping) is performed individually for each page in order, pre-processing and through-up processing in the printing process for a page → Print formation at steady speed → Through-down processing and post-processing, then pre-processing and through-up processing for the next page → Print formation at steady speed → Through-down processing and post-processing, etc. Each time, through-up processing and through-down processing are performed, and the time loss is large. Therefore, conventionally, when a certain condition is satisfied, a so-called non-stop is performed in which a print process is continuously performed without interposing the through-down process → through-up process as described above between the current page and the next page. Printing is performed.

<Non-stop printing by conventional methods>
FIG. 4A shows a behavior when non-stop printing is performed by the above-described conventional method as a comparative example. This figure shows data development / data creation behavior in the image buffer 342 and print data buffer 341 described above, and conveyance / printing behavior of the conveyance roller and thermal head 55 (hereinafter collectively referred to as “driving unit” as appropriate). Is conceptually expressed with the time axis on the horizontal axis.

  In FIG. 4A, as already described, print data creation and data expansion for the current page (abbreviated as “current page” in the figure) is performed in the print data buffer 341, and the corresponding current page is printed. In parallel, the image data of the next page received from the personal computer 111 is already being developed in the image buffer 342 (see time to).

  In this comparative example, when the development of the print data of the current page in the print data buffer 341 is completed as a condition for performing the above-described non-stop printing (see time t2), the image buffer 342 is then processed. It is determined whether or not the development of the image data of the next page has already been completed. That is, the time t2 is a reference timing for determining whether or not to perform non-stop printing (corresponding to the first timing in this case). In the example shown in FIG. 4A, the development of the image data of the next page to the image buffer 342 has been completed at a timing before the time t2 (see time t1). Accordingly, it is determined that non-stop printing is possible, and in the print data buffer 341, after the development of the print data of the current page is completed, the developed image data of the next page without a gap. The print data for the next page corresponding to is created and development starts (see time t2). As a result, even after the printing of the current page is completed in the driving unit, the next print of the next page by the thermal head 55 is continued without leaving a gap (without stopping the conveyance of the conveyance roller). Is started (see time t3).

  Thereafter, the development of the print data of the next page to the print data buffer 341 started as described above ends (see time t4). Correspondingly, the printing of the next page performed by the drive unit as described above is also finished (see time t5), and then the above-described through-down process is performed (see times t5 to t6), and further appropriately. After the post-processing is performed (see times t6 to t7), the operation is stopped.

  On the other hand, in this comparative example, FIG. 4B shows the behavior when the above condition is not satisfied at the determination reference timing (whether or not to perform non-stop printing). As shown in the figure, in this case, when the development of the print data of the current page in the print data buffer 341 is completed (see time t2), the development of the image data of the next page in the image buffer 342 is still finished. (It ends at a later time t1 '). Thereby, it is determined that non-stop printing is impossible. As a result, in the print data buffer 341, when the development of the print data of the current page is completed, the print data is not temporarily started (not the development of the print data of the next page as shown in FIG. 4A). Is interrupted (see times t2 to t11). As a result, when the printing of the current page is finished (see time t3) after that, the drive unit does not continue to print the print data of the next page as shown in FIG. 4A. Processing is performed (see times t3 to t8), and after further post processing is performed (see times t8 to t9), the operation is stopped.

  Thereafter, at a timing close to the stop of the operation of the drive unit (see time t11), development of the print data (print data of the next page) once interrupted to the print data buffer 341 is started. In the drive unit, appropriate preprocessing is performed (see times t9 to t10), and further through-up processing is performed (see times t10 to t3 ′), and then printing of print data for the next page is started (time). t3 ').

  Thereafter, as described above, the development of the next page of print data in the print data buffer 341 is completed (see time t4 ′). Thereafter, when printing of the next page by the drive unit is completed (see time t5 ′), the through Down processing is performed (see times t5 ′ to t6 ′), and after further post processing is performed (see times t6 ′ to t7 ′), the operation is stopped. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 4B, through-up processing and through-down processing are performed every time both in the current page processing and in the next page processing, as shown in FIG. In comparison with the case of performing non-stop printing, a large time loss (Δt) occurs. In other words, the through-down process and the through-up process between the printing processes of each page are omitted as much as possible as shown in FIG. 4A rather than the case where each page is printed individually as shown in FIG. By performing non-stop printing (in other words, so that printing can be continuously performed at the steady speed of each page), a time loss of Δt can be eliminated.

<Problems in non-stop printing using conventional methods>
However, even in the case of non-stop printing by the above method, for example, as shown in FIG. 5A, the current page to the print data buffer 341 is developed while the image data of the next page is developed in the image buffer 342 (see time t20). When the development of the print data is completed (refer to the non-stop judgment reference timing (1) shown at time t22, which corresponds to the first timing in this case), the development of the image data of the next page to the image buffer 342 is very difficult. It may have been a little complete (see time 21 scheduled to be completed, slightly later than time t22). In this case, the determination as to whether or not the development of the image data of the next page to the image buffer 342 has been completed is not satisfied with the conventional method. Therefore, as described above, the current page (steady speed) printing → through-down processing → through-up processing for printing the next page → printing the next page (at steady speed) →. As shown in FIG. 5 (a), the behavior of the drive unit indicated by an imaginary line in the lowermost stage), a large time loss occurs.

<Non-stop printing by the method of this embodiment>
Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5B (shown as “non-stop printing (2)” in FIG. 5), when the above determination is not satisfied, that is, as described above, the print data buffer Even when the development of the print data of the current page to 341 ends (see time t22), the development of the image data of the next page to the image buffer 342 has not been completed yet, and the development to the image buffer 342 is enhanced. The expansion enhancement process is executed (see “Expansion Enhancement Area” shown in FIG. 5B), and the time required for expansion of the image data of the next page to the image buffer 342 is shortened. As can be seen by comparing FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, the above-described development enhancement processing is performed at the timing when the through-down processing in the printing process for the current page is started (FIG. 5A ) Is started before time t24).

  In the expansion enhancement process, specifically, n (one period in the image buffer expansion of the next page data executed together with the energization process during one printing period in the normal state shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3B, the value of the number of print lines developed in the image buffer 342 is, for example, n 'line (n' is larger than n. In this example, for example, n '= 2n is double speed). However, it may be increased to a larger value, for example, 5 times speed or 10 times speed. As a result, the image data can be expanded in the image buffer 342 with a larger number of lines than before, so that the expansion of the image data of the next page to the image buffer 342 can be accelerated (FIG. 5). (See time t21 in (a) → time t21 ′ in FIG. 5B). Further, as the printing cycle increases as shown in FIG. 3B, the printing speed of the drive unit for the current page is reduced, and it is expected that the printing end time can be delayed (time t24 in FIG. 5A). (See time t24 ′ in FIG. 5B). As a result of the early completion of the development to the image buffer 342 and the delay of the printing end of the drive unit in this way, when the printing for the current page actually ends, the image data of the next page is stored in the image buffer 342. Increase the chances of completing the deployment.

  Corresponding to the above, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that when the development of the image data of the next page to the image buffer 342 is completed, the development of the print data of the next page to the print data buffer 341 is started immediately. In this case (see time t21 ′ in FIG. 5B), a predetermined timing thereafter, for example, a timing at which print data of a predetermined number of lines is expected to be developed in the print data buffer 342 (time t23 in FIG. 5B). In the non-stop determination reference timing (2) shown in FIG. 2 (corresponding to the second timing), it is predicted and determined whether or not the printing on the current page by the drive unit is still continued. The second timing is a time when the print data of the next page of a predetermined number of lines (for example, 10 lines) is completely developed in the print data buffer 341 after the development enhancement process is started. When the above determination is satisfied, the current page is actually printed by the drive unit due to the effect of the early completion of the development to the image buffer 342 and the delay of the print end of the drive unit by the above-described development enhancement process. When the process ends, it is considered that the development of the image data of the next page to the image buffer 342 can be completed. In response to the prediction and determination result, the print data of the next page by the thermal head 55 is continued without stopping the conveyance of the conveyance roller after the print formation by the print data of the current page by the thermal head 55 of the driving unit is completed. The print formation by is started.

  Specifically, at the end of creation of the first predetermined number of dots of the next page of print data in the print data buffer 341, it can be predicted that the drive unit has not yet stopped even at the non-stop determination reference timing (2) based on the above prediction. Then, immediately after the image development of the next page in the image buffer 342 is completed, the print data of the next page is created in the print data buffer 341 (see time t21 ′ in FIG. 5B). As a result, when the printing of the current page is completed in the drive unit (see time t24 ′ in FIG. 5B), the printing speed is reduced as described above, so that it can be restored to the original amount. After performing only the through-up process (see times t24 'to t25), printing of the print data for the next page is started (see time t25). Thereafter, in response to the end of creation of the next page of print data in the print data buffer 341 (see time t26 in FIG. 5B), when printing of the next page by the drive unit is completed (time t27 in FIG. 5B). (See reference), through-down processing similar to that described above is performed (see time t27 to t28), and after further post-processing (see time t28 to t29), the operation is stopped. As a result of such processing, in the example shown in FIG. 5B, as shown in FIG. 5A, after the current page processing and before the next page processing, through-down processing and through-up processing by the drive unit are interposed. Compared to the case, the processing time can be shortened by the time ΔT ′.

  In addition, in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, as described above, the processing method for remedying a case where the above-described determination at the non-stop determination reference timing (1) is not satisfied has been described. When the above-described determination at the non-stop determination reference timing (1) is satisfied, also in this embodiment, the same processing as the non-stop printing according to the comparative example described with reference to FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 6 (indicated as “non-stop printing (1)” in the drawing), the image data of the next page received from the personal computer 111 is already being developed in the image buffer 342 (see time t10). When the development of the print data for the current page in the print data buffer 341 is completed (see time t12), it is determined whether or not the development of the image data for the next page has already been completed (in this case). Equivalent to the first timing). If the development of the next page of image data to the image buffer 342 has been completed at the timing before the time t12 (see time t11), the print data of the current page is developed in the print data buffer 341. Subsequent to the completion, the development of the print data for the next page is started without a gap (see time t12). As a result, after the printing of the current page is completed, the drive unit starts printing of the next page by the thermal head 55 without any interval (see time t13). Thereafter, the development of the print data for the next page is completed (see time t14), and when the printing of the next page performed by the drive unit is also completed (see time t15), the above-described through-down process (see times t15 to t16). After further post-processing is performed (see times t16 to t17), the operation is stopped.

<Control procedure by data controller>
The processing contents executed by the CPU 32 to realize the above method will be described with reference to FIGS. In the flow shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, as described above, print data to be printed by the printer 1 is created for each page by the user performing an appropriate operation on the personal computer 111. (So-called page printing).

  First, processing contents executed by the data control unit 32A of the CPU 32 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 7, first, in step S10, the data control unit 32A of the CPU 32 initializes each of the expansion enhancement flag F1, the normal nonstop flag F2, and the enhancement nonstop flag F3 to “0”.

  Thereafter, in step S15, the data control unit 32A sets the variable N related to the page number to “1”.

  In step S <b> 20, the data control unit 32 </ b> A starts developing the N page image data received from the personal computer 111 into the image buffer 342.

  Thereafter, in step S25, the data control unit 32A determines whether or not the development of the N pages of image data started in step S20 to the image buffer 342 has been completed. If the expansion has not ended, the determination is not satisfied (S25: NO), and the loop waits until the determination is satisfied. When the development is completed, the determination in step S25 is satisfied (S25: YES), and the process proceeds to step S30.

  In step S <b> 30, the data control unit 32 </ b> A starts generating N page print data and expanding it into the print data buffer 341.

  Thereafter, in step S35, the data control unit 32A determines whether or not the expansion enhancement flag F1 is 1. If the deployment enhancement flag F1 is 0, the determination is not satisfied (S35: NO), and the process proceeds to step S50.

  In step S50, the data control unit 32A starts developing the image data of the N + 1 page (the page next to the N page) into the image buffer 342.

  Thereafter, in step S55, the data control unit 32A determines whether or not the expansion of the N page print data into the print data buffer 341 started in step S30 has been completed. If the expansion has not ended, the determination is not satisfied (S55: NO), and the loop waits until the determination is satisfied. When the development is completed, the determination in step S55 is satisfied (S55: YES), and the process proceeds to step S60.

  In step S60, the data control unit 32A determines whether or not the processing for the image data of all pages received from the personal computer 111 has been completed. If completed, the determination is satisfied (S60: YES), and this flow ends. If not completed, the determination is not satisfied (S60: NO), and the process proceeds to step S65.

  In step S65, the data control unit 32A determines whether or not the development of the image data of page N + 1 to the image buffer 342 started in step S50 has been completed. If the development has been completed, the determination is satisfied (S65: YES), the process proceeds to step S70, the normal nonstop flag F2 is set to 1, and then the process proceeds to step S75 described later.

  On the other hand, if the development of the image data of page N + 1 is not completed in step S65, the determination is not satisfied (S65: NO), and the process proceeds to step S80.

  In step S80, the data control unit 32A executes the above-described development enhancement process to increase the number of image development lines. That is, as described above with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, n (one cycle in the image buffer development of the next page data that has been executed together with the energization process during the previous one print cycle. The value of the number of print lines developed in the image buffer 342 is newly increased to n ′ as shown in FIG. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S85.

  In step S85, the data control unit 32A sets the deployment enhancement flag F1 to 1, and proceeds to step S90.

  In step S90, the data control unit 32A receives the execution of the expansion enhancement process in step S90, and performs the N page printing based on the print data generated and expanded in steps S30 to S55. Whether or not print data of a predetermined number of lines (for example, 10) can be created and developed in the print data buffer 341 by the time when the printing unit (the thermal head 55 and the conveyance roller) is expected to stop the printing operation of the N page. judge. In other words, assuming that the development of the print data of the next page to the print data buffer 341 is started immediately after the development of the image data of the N + 1 page is completed (see time t21 ′ in FIG. 5B). Then, at the timing when the print data of the predetermined number of lines thereafter is expected to be developed in the print data buffer 342 (see the non-stop determination reference timing (2) at time t23 in FIG. 5B), It is predicted and determined whether printing of the drive unit is still continued. When it is predicted that the print data of the predetermined number of lines can be created (the development enhancement process in step S80 is successful), the determination in step S90 is satisfied (S90: YES), and in step S95. After the enhancement nonstop flag F3 is set to 1, the process proceeds to step S75.

  On the other hand, if it is predicted in step S90 (unfortunately the development enhancement processing in step S80 does not work) that the predetermined number of lines of print data cannot be created, this determination is not satisfied (S90). : NO), the process proceeds to step S98.

  In step S98, the data control unit 32A determines whether or not the development of the image data of page N + 1 to the image buffer 342 started in step S50 is completed. If the expansion has not ended, the determination is not satisfied (S98: NO), and the loop waits until this determination is satisfied. When the development is completed, the determination in step S98 is satisfied (S98: YES), and the process proceeds to step S75.

  In step S75 transferred from step S70, step S95, or step S98, the data control unit 32A adds 1 to the value of N. Then, it returns to said step S30 and repeats the same procedure. At that time, if the expansion enhancement process is executed in step S80 and F1 = 1 is set in step S85, the determination in step S35 described above is satisfied via step S30 (S35: YES), and the process proceeds to step S40. .

  In step S40, the data control unit 32A restores the number of image development lines that have been increased in the development enhancement process in step S80, and then returns the development enhancement flag F1 to 0 in step S45. The same procedure is repeated thereafter.

<Control procedure by drive controller>
Next, processing contents executed by the drive control unit 32B of the CPU 32 will be described with reference to FIG. The process shown in FIG. 8 is performed in parallel with the process shown in the flow of FIG. Such concurrent processing can be performed by one CPU 32 by a known method similar to “multitask processing”, which is often performed by an OS of a computer, for example.

  First, in step S100, the drive control unit 32B of the CPU 32 initializes the through-up flag F4 to 0.

  Thereafter, in step S105, the drive control unit 32B determines whether or not the N pages of print data to be printed at this time have been developed and written in a predetermined number of lines in the print data buffer 341. To do. If it is not written, the determination is not satisfied (S105: NO), and the loop waits until the determination is satisfied. When the writing is completed, the determination in step S105 is satisfied (S105: YES), and the process proceeds to step S110.

  In step S110, the drive control unit 32B determines whether or not the through-up flag F4 is 1. If the through-up flag F4 is 0, this determination is not satisfied (S110: NO), and the process proceeds to step S145 described later. On the other hand, if the through-up flag F4 is 1, the determination is satisfied (S110: YES), and the routine goes to Step S115.

  In step S115, the drive control unit 32B determines whether or not the above-described expansion enhancement flag F1, normal nonstop flag F2, and enhancement nonstop flag F3 are all zero. If at least one of F1, F2, and F3 is 1 by the processing of the flow shown in FIG. 7, this determination is not satisfied (S115: NO), and the process proceeds to step S135 described later. On the other hand, if all of F1, F2, and F3 remain 0, the determination is satisfied (S115: YES), and the routine goes to Step S120.

  In step S <b> 120, the drive control unit 32 </ b> B performs known appropriate preprocessing for starting the tape feed motor 57.

  Thereafter, in step S125, the drive control unit 32B controls the thermal head 55 and the tape feed motor 57 in cooperation to perform the above-described through-up process, and gradually accelerates the tape feed motor 57 from the stopped state. Bring to steady speed.

  In step S130, the drive control unit 32B sets the through-up flag F4 to 1. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S145.

  In step S145, the drive control unit 32B controls the energization of the plurality of heating elements of the thermal head 55 and the drive of the pulse motor that drives the tape feed motor 57, thereby controlling the print target of the tape 2 to be printed. The printing process at the steady speed is performed on the page. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S150 described later.

  On the other hand, in step S135 where the determination in step S115 is not satisfied and the process proceeds to step S135, the drive control unit 32B determines that the deployment enhancement flag F1 is 1 by the processing of the flow shown in FIG. 7 (specifically, step S85). Determine whether or not. When F1 = 0 remains (in other words, when the normal nonstop flag F2 = 1), this determination is not satisfied (S135: NO), and the process proceeds to step S145 described later (in the flow of FIG. 7). (See step S70). That is, the printing process at the steady speed is continued without performing the pre-processing in step S120 and the through-up process in step S125. On the other hand, if F1 = 1, the determination in step S135 is satisfied (S135: YES), and the process proceeds to step S140.

  In step S140, the drive control unit 32B determines whether or not the enhanced non-stop flag F3 is 1 by the processing of the flow shown in FIG. 7 (specifically, the step S95). If F3 = 0, this determination is not satisfied (S140: NO), and the process proceeds to step S120. That is, after performing the pre-processing in step S120 and the through-up process in step S125, the process proceeds to step S145 through step S130, and the printing process at the steady speed is continued. On the other hand, if F3 = 1, the determination in step S140 is satisfied (S140: YES), and the process proceeds to step S125. That is, after the pre-processing in step S120 is omitted and the through-up process in step S125 is performed, the process proceeds to step S145 through step S130, and the printing process at the steady speed is continued.

  In step S150, which is shifted from step S145, the drive control unit 32B erases the print data developed and written in the print data buffer 341 in step S105. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S155.

  In step S155, the drive control unit 32B determines whether or not the printing process has been completed for all the data of the N pages that are to be printed at this time, using a known appropriate method. If the printing process for all data has not been completed, this determination is not satisfied (S155: NO), and the same procedure is repeated by returning to step S105. On the other hand, if the print processing for all data has been completed, this determination is satisfied (S155: YES), and the routine goes to Step S160.

  In step S160, the drive control unit 32B initializes all of the expansion enhancement flag F1, the normal nonstop flag F2, the enhancement nonstop flag F3, and the through-up flag F4 to 0 again. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S165.

  In step S165, the drive control unit 32B determines whether or not N + 1 pages of print data following the N pages have been written in the print data buffer 341 by a predetermined number of lines. If not written, the determination is not satisfied (S165: NO), and the process proceeds to step S175.

  In step S175, the drive control unit 32B determines whether or not a predetermined time has passed. If the predetermined time has not elapsed, the determination is not satisfied (S175: NO), and the process returns to step S165. If the print data of page N + 1 is written in the print data buffer 341 by a predetermined number of lines while repeating step S175, step S165, step S175, and so on in this way, the determination in step S165 is satisfied (S165). : YES), 1 is added to the value of N in step S170, and the process returns to step S115 to repeat the same procedure.

  On the other hand, if the predetermined time has elapsed while repeating step S175, step S165, step S175, and so on as described above, the determination in step S175 is satisfied (S175: YES), and step S180 is performed. Move.

  In step S180, the drive control unit 32B controls the thermal head 55 and the tape feed motor 57 in cooperation to perform the above-described through-down process, and gradually decelerates the tape feed motor 57 from the steady speed and stops. And

  Thereafter, in step S185, the drive control unit 32B performs known appropriate post-processing after the tape feed motor 57 is stopped.

  In the above, step S65 of FIG. 7 corresponds to the first determination process described in each claim, step S80 corresponds to the development enhancement process, and step S90 corresponds to the second determination process as described above. In addition, when the determination in step S90 in FIG. 7 is satisfied and F3 = 1 in step S95, the flow from step S140 to step S125 and the determination in step S65 in FIG. 7 are satisfied. The flow of step S135 → step S145 when F2 = 1 in S70 corresponds to the continuation control process, and further, step S175 → step S180 → step when the determination of step S90 of FIG. 7 is not satisfied. The flow of S185 corresponds to the stop control process, and the CPU 32 that executes each of these processes corresponds to the control means described in each claim. To.

<Effect of this embodiment>
As described above, in the present embodiment, when printing is performed for each page of the plurality of pages of the print-receiving tape 2, the image buffer 342 and the print data buffer 3421 are provided due to the above-described restrictions. Even in this case, it is possible to reduce the time loss in operation by performing the non-stop printing shown in FIG. 5B or the non-stop printing shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, in particular, the above-described development enhancement processing is performed at the timing when the through-down processing is started during the printing operation of the drive unit (thermal head 55 and tape feed motor 57) for the current page (FIG. 5 ( It is started before time t24 in a). As a result, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 4B, the through-down process relating to the current page and the through-up process relating to the next page are reliably prevented from being caught, and the operation time is reduced. It is possible to reliably prevent loss.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the meaning.

  For example, the printer 1 according to the present embodiment is a so-called label printer that performs printing on the print-receiving tape 2, but may be a printer that performs printing on a roll-shaped or sheet-shaped printing paper.

  The personal computer 111 connected to the printer 1 via the USB port P may be a tower type, an all-in-one type, a notebook type personal computer, or a large computer.

  In addition, in the above, the arrow shown in FIG. 2 shows an example of a signal flow, and does not limit the signal flow direction.

  The flow shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 does not limit the present invention to the procedure shown in the above flow, and the addition / deletion of the procedure, the change of the order, etc. are within the scope without departing from the spirit and technical idea of the invention. May be.

  In addition to those already described above, the methods according to the above-described embodiments and modifications may be used in appropriate combination.

  In addition, although not illustrated one by one, the present invention is implemented with various modifications within a range not departing from the gist thereof.

1 Printer (printing device)
32 CPU (control means)
32A Data control unit 32B Drive control unit 55 Thermal head (printing means)
57 Tape feed motor (conveyance means)
341 Print data buffer 342 Image buffer

Claims (4)

A conveying means for conveying the print medium;
An image buffer in which received image data is expanded; and
A print data buffer in which print data corresponding to the image data expanded in the image buffer is expanded;
Printing means for forming on the print medium a print based on the print data developed in the print data buffer;
Control means;
Have
The printing means includes
A plurality of heating elements arranged in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the transport means and forming at least each dot on each print line formed by dividing the print medium into print resolution in the transport direction. And
The control means includes
Energization for energizing the printing unit in accordance with the print data of the current page during one printing cycle during a printing process in which the transport unit and the printing unit sequentially perform a plurality of pages on the print medium. A printing apparatus that executes in parallel a process and a developing process of developing the image data of the next page of the current page into the image buffer by n print lines (n is a specific integer of 1 or more);
The control means further includes
A first determination process for determining whether or not development of the image data of the next page to the image buffer is completed at a predetermined first timing before the printing process for the current page is completed;
When it is determined by the first determination process that the expansion of the image data of the next page has not been completed, the value of n in the expansion process executed together with the energization process during the one printing cycle is increased. Deployment enhancement processing
When it is assumed that the expansion of the print data of the next page corresponding to the completion of the expansion of the image data of the next page is started after the expansion enhancement process is started, A second determination process for predicting whether or not the printing process for the current page is continued at the second timing;
When it is predicted by the second determination process that the printing process for the current page is not completed at the second timing, the printing unit corresponding to the print data of the current page by the printing unit. A stop control process for stopping transport of the transport means after completion of printing; and
When the second determination process predicts that the printing process for the current page is continuing at the second timing, or the first determination process completes the development of the image data of the next page If it is determined that the printing unit has finished forming the print corresponding to the print data of the current page by the printing unit, the printing unit continuously stops the conveyance without stopping the conveyance of the conveyance unit. A continuation control process for starting the formation of the print corresponding to the print data of the next page;
The printing apparatus characterized by performing. The printing apparatus according to claim 1.
The second timing is
A printing apparatus characterized in that, after the expansion enhancement process is started, it is time to complete the expansion of the print data of the next page of the predetermined number of lines to the print data buffer. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The control means further includes
By controlling the energization of the plurality of heating elements and the driving of a pulse motor that drives the conveying means in cooperation, at least in the printing process to the first page to be printed on the printing medium, The pulse / dot ratio between the number of output of the pulse signal to the pulse motor when the pulse motor is rotated and the number of line print data obtained by dividing the print data into one print line unit is a constant ratio. In the printing process for at least the last page to be printed on the printing medium, the pulse-dot process is performed to accelerate the speed of the pulse motor from a stopped state to a steady speed. A through-down process is performed in which the speed of the pulse motor is stopped from the steady speed while the ratio is constant. Printing apparatus characterized by. The printing apparatus according to claim 3.
The control means includes
If it is determined by the first determination process that the development of the image data of the next page is not completed, the timing before the start of the through-down process in the printing process for the current page is started. Further, the printing apparatus is characterized by starting the expansion enhancement process.

Images