JP2019116066A - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a printing device that can suppress first print-output time from being elongated.SOLUTION: After printing data is memorized in a RAM while being associated with a user ID, input of the user ID and a password is received by an operation part, and authentication is made by checking whether the combination of the user ID and the password is right or wrong (S19). When the authentication is made successfully, printing of the printing data for which RIP, a printing preparation is completed is started (S20). Printing preparation starting processing (S17) for starting the RIP for the printing data to be printed is started in response to the fact that the user ID received by the operation part 14 is determined uniquely (S14:YES).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus such as a printer.

  Conventionally, there are printers that can execute printing (formation of an image on a sheet) after user authentication by inputting a user ID and a password (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Further, some printers requiring user authentication have a storage printing function. In a printer having a storage printing function, after receiving print data from a PC (Personal Computer) by user operation, printing of the print data is not executed immediately, and the print data is stored in the memory. Then, after the print data is stored in the memory, an authentication operation such as password input by the user or card authentication is performed, and if the authentication is successful, the authentication is performed among the print data stored in the memory. Printing of the images related to the print data of the successful user is collectively performed.

Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2011-198166

  A printer having this storage printing function starts printing after user authentication, so it takes a long first print output time (FPOT: First Print Output Time) from the start of authentication to the discharge of the first sheet of printed matter. There is a case.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of suppressing an increase in first print output time.

  In order to achieve the above object, a printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a receiving unit that receives print data, a printing unit that prints an image related to the print data on a sheet, a receiving unit that receives an input, a storage unit, A print data storage process for causing print data to be received by the reception unit to be associated with a user ID and storing the print data in the storage unit; and after executing the print data storage process, the user ID and the control unit. An authentication process that determines that the authentication is successful if the combination of the received user ID and password is correct, and that the authentication fails if the combination is incorrect, in response to the reception unit receiving the input of the password; When a user ID is input to the reception unit, the user ID accepted by the reception unit is uniquely determined according to the user ID. Print data extraction processing for extracting the print data from the storage unit; print preparation start processing for starting print preparation for causing the print unit to print an image related to the print data extracted by the print data extraction processing; According to the determination that the authentication is successful in the authentication process, or after the determination that the authentication is successful in the authentication process, the control unit controls the printing unit in response to an instruction to start printing being received. And print start processing for starting printing of an image related to print data for which print preparation has been completed.

  According to this configuration, after the print data is stored in the storage unit in association with the user ID, the input of the user ID and password is accepted by the accepting unit, and authentication based on the correctness of the combination of the user ID and password is performed. . If the authentication is successful, printing of print data ready for printing is started.

  Then, print preparation is started in response to the user ID accepted by the accepting unit being uniquely determined. Therefore, compared with the configuration in which the print preparation is started after the user authentication, the completion time of the print preparation can be advanced. That is, as compared with the case of preparing for printing after the input of the user ID and password, the user is successfully authenticated because the printing preparation for the print data associated with the user ID is performed at the stage when the user ID is uniquely determined. Alternatively, it is possible to shorten the first print output time from the instruction to start printing to the discharge of the first print.

  According to the present invention, an increase in the first print output time can be suppressed

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of accumulation print processing. It is a figure which shows an example of a login screen. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of print preparation end processing. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of print preparation start processing; It is a flow chart which shows a flow of print preparation start processing concerning other embodiments. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process performed succeeding to step S21 shown by FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of RIP order determination processing. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of complexity calculation processing. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of preparation processing immediately before printing. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of user designated data RIP processing.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

<Electric Configuration of Printer>
The printer 1 (an example of a printing apparatus) illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a print engine 11 (an example of a printing unit), an operation panel 12, and a LAN interface (I / F) 13.

  The print engine 11 is provided in a housing of the printer 1 and is a mechanism for printing a color image or a monochrome image relating to image data on a sheet such as a print sheet which is conveyed one by one on a conveyance path. The printing method may be an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method.

  Operation panel 12 is provided, for example, on the top surface of the housing. The operation panel 12 is provided with an operation unit 14 and a display unit 15.

  The operation unit 14 (an example of a reception unit) includes, for example, operation keys such as a ten key and a cursor key. When the operation key is operated, the operation is accepted by the operation unit 14, and a signal (data) corresponding to the content of the operation is output from the operation panel 12.

  The display unit 15 is, for example, a liquid crystal display.

  The operation unit 14 and the display unit 15 may constitute a touch panel. Images such as various information and operation keys are displayed on the display unit 15 that constitutes the touch panel. When the user presses an operation key displayed on the display unit 15 (touch operation), the operation is accepted by the operation unit 14 and a signal (data) corresponding to the content of the operation is output from the operation panel 12 Be done. Below, the case where the operation part 14 and the display part 15 comprise a touch panel is taken up.

  The LAN interface 13 is an interface for connection with a LAN (Local Area Network).

  The printer 1 further includes a control unit 16. The control unit 16 includes an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 21, a read only memory (ROM) 22, and a random access memory (RAM) 23.

  In addition to the ROM 22 and the RAM 23, the print engine 11, the operation panel 12 and the LAN interface 13 are connected to the ASIC 21.

  The ASIC 21 incorporates a CPU 24 (an example of a control unit). Signals and the like output from the operation panel 12 are input to the ASIC 21. The CPU 24 controls programs including the print engine 11, the operation panel 12, and the LAN interface 13 by executing programs for various processes based on signals input to the ASIC 21.

  The ROM 22 is composed of a rewritable non-volatile memory such as a flash memory. The ROM 22 stores programs executed by the CPU 24 and various data.

  The RAM 23 (an example of a storage unit) is a volatile memory such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), and is used as a work area when the CPU 24 executes a program.

<Stored printing>
The printer 1 has a storage printing function. In the printer 1, when the use of the storage printing function is set, for example, print data (print job) is received from an external terminal such as a PC (Personal Computer) by user operation via a LAN connected to the LAN interface 13. However, printing of the image related to the received print data is not immediately executed, and the print data is stored in the RAM 23 in association with the user ID for identifying the user and the date when the print data is received. Printing of the image related to the print data stored in the RAM 23 is executed after the user who has transmitted the print data succeeds in the login authentication.

  In a state where print data is stored in the RAM 23, the CPU 24 incorporated in the ASIC 21 executes the storage print process shown in FIG.

  In the storage printing process, the CPU 24 determines whether or not an instruction to display a login screen by the operation of the operation unit 14 is input (S11).

  For example, on the standby screen of the display unit 15, operation keys for instructing display of the login screen are displayed. When this operation key is pressed, the CPU 24 determines that a login screen display instruction has been input (S11: YES), and switches the display of the display unit 15 from the standby screen to the login screen (S12).

  In the login screen, as shown in FIG. 3, a user ID input box 31 and a password input box 32 are displayed in two upper and lower rows. Further, an OK button 33 is displayed at the lower right end of the login screen 30. Immediately after the login screen is displayed, for example, the user ID input box 31 is displayed in a brighter color than the password input box 32 in order to prompt the user to input a user ID.

  The ROM 22 stores a user management table. In the user management table, the login password is registered in association with the user ID of each user who has the usage right of the printer 1.

  When the user ID input box 31 is touched by the user's fingertip or the like, a keyboard is displayed on the display unit 15. The user ID can be input to the user ID input box 31 by the user operating the keyboard. When a keyboard operation for inputting characters (text) in the user ID input box 31, that is, when the user ID input operation is performed (S13: YES), the CPU 24 inputs one character in the user ID input box 31 every time Then, the user management table stored in the ROM 22 is accessed to search for a candidate of a user ID in which the input characters are included from the beginning in the input order. That is, every time one character is input in the user ID input box 31, the CPU 24 selects a character string (including one in the case of one character) among the user IDs registered in the user management table. ) A so-called incremental search is performed to search for user ID candidates using.) As search words. Then, the CPU 24 determines whether the user ID is uniquely determined from the character string input to the user ID input box 31 (S14).

  If the user ID is not uniquely determined from the character string input to the user ID input box 31 (S14: NO), the CPU 24 determines again whether or not the user ID input operation has been performed (S13).

  In the state where the user ID input operation is not performed, the CPU 24 determines whether or not the non-operation state has continued for a certain period of time when the input timeout occurs (S15).

  When the no-operation state has not continued for a predetermined time (S15: NO), the CPU 24 determines that the input time-out has not occurred (S15: NO), and waits for a user ID input operation (S13).

  If the user ID is uniquely determined from the character string input to the user ID input box 31 (S14: YES), the CPU 24 determines whether the print preparation start process has not been executed (S16).

  If the print preparation start process has not been executed (S16: YES), the CPU 24 executes the print preparation start process (S17). The flow of the print preparation start process is shown in FIG.

  In the print preparation start process, when the user ID is uniquely determined from the print job to be printed, that is, the user ID registered in the user management table, the CPU 24 is an external terminal when the user ID is determined. The print data sent from the above is extracted from the RAM 23. Then, in background operation, RIP of the extracted print data is started (S171). The RIP is a process of converting print data into a raster image (bitmap image) by the background operation of a raster image processor (RIP).

  Thereafter, the CPU 24 starts the warm-up of the print engine 11 (S172), ends the print preparation start process, and returns to the accumulation print process shown in FIG.

  After execution of the print preparation start process, the CPU 24 determines whether or not the input of the login password in the password input box 32 of the login screen is completed (S18). When the password input box 32 is touched by the user's fingertip or the like, a keyboard is displayed on the display unit 15. Therefore, the user can operate the keyboard to input a login password into the password input box 32. On the other hand, if the print preparation start process has already been executed (S16: NO), the CPU 24 skips the execution of the print preparation start process, and the input of the login password to the password input box 32 is completed. It is determined (S18).

  When one or more characters are input to the password input box 32, and the OK button 33 of the login screen is pressed, the CPU 24 determines that the input of the login password to the password input box 32 is completed (S18: YES ).

  In response to the completion of the login password input to the password input box 32, the CPU 24 executes user authentication (S19). In this authentication, the CPU 24 confirms whether the combination of the user ID and the login password input on the login screen is registered in the user management table. When the combination of the user ID and the login password entered on the login screen is registered in the user management table, the CPU 24 determines that the user has been successfully authenticated, and if the combination is not registered, the user is authenticated. Judge as failure.

  If the user authentication is successful (S19: YES), the CPU 24 controls the print engine 11 to execute printing on a sheet of the image according to the print data transmitted from the external terminal by the user who has succeeded in the authentication. (S20), this accumulation print process is ended. At this time, since the RIP of print data transmitted from the external terminal by the user is advanced by execution of the print preparation start process, printing of the image related to the print data is started in a short time after the user authentication succeeds. Ru.

  If the user authentication fails (S19: NO), the CPU 24 causes the display unit 15 to display a login failure screen. Thereafter, the CPU 24 causes the display unit 15 to display the login screen again (S12).

In addition, when the non-operation state continues for a predetermined time when the input time-out occurs, the CPU 24 determines the input time-out (S15: YES), and executes the print preparation end process (S21). The flow of print preparation end processing is shown in FIG.
In the print preparation end process, when the RIP process is being performed, the CPU 24 ends the RIP (S211).
Thereafter, when the data in which the RIP has already been completed is stored in the RAM 23, the CPU 24 deletes the data (S212), and ends the print preparation end processing, and the accumulation print processing shown in FIG. Return to By executing the print preparation end process, the RIP completed data can be deleted from the RAM 23 which has become unnecessary, and the free space of the RAM 23 can be increased.

  After execution of the print preparation end process, the CPU 24 returns the display unit 15 of the printer 1 to the standby screen (S22), and ends the accumulated print process.

<Function effect>
As described above, after the print data is stored in the RAM 23 in association with the user ID, the input of the user ID and the password is accepted by the operation unit 14, and the authentication based on the correctness of the combination of the user ID and the password is performed. If the authentication is successful, printing of print data whose RIP, which is print preparation, is completed is started.

  The print preparation start process for starting the RIP of the print data to be printed is started in response to the unique determination of the user ID accepted by the operation unit 14. Therefore, compared with the configuration in which the print preparation is started after the user authentication, the completion time of the print preparation can be advanced. That is, as compared with the case of preparing for printing after the input of the user ID and password, the user is successfully authenticated because the printing preparation for the print data associated with the user ID is performed at the stage when the user ID is uniquely determined. The first print output time from when the first print is discharged to the first print can be shortened.

  Specifically, in the configuration in which print preparation is started after user authentication, for example, when the print data received by the printer 1 from the external terminal is data that needs conversion to a raster image (bit map image), user authentication The conversion process is performed later. When the power supply to the printer engine is stopped, the printer engine warms up after user authentication. Therefore, the first print output time takes a long time. On the other hand, in the configuration where print preparation is started before user authentication, print preparation is already in progress at the time of user authentication, so the first print output time can be shortened.

Other Embodiments
In the accumulated printing process shown in FIG. 2, when the user authentication is successful (S19: YES), printing of the image according to the print data transmitted from the external terminal by the user who succeeded in the authentication is immediately performed on the sheet (S20). Instead of this, when the authentication of the user is successful, printing of an image related to print data designated by the user may be executed in response to a print start request from the user. In this case, in step S17 of the accumulation print process shown in FIG. 2, the print preparation start process shown in FIG. 6 is executed instead of the print preparation start process shown in FIG. Further, when the success of the user authentication is determined in step S19 of the storage printing process shown in FIG. 2, following the process of step S19, not the process of step S20, but step S25 to FIG. 7 shown in FIG. The process of S32 is performed.

  In the print preparation start process shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 24 first executes the RIP order determination process (S173). The flow of the RIP order determination process is shown in FIG.

  When the RIP order determination process is started, the user who has succeeded in authentication sorts the print data transmitted from the external terminal and stored in the RAM 23 in descending order of complexity (S1731). The complexity of the print data will be described later. If the print data contains the same complexity (S1732: YES), the CPU 24 associates the print data of the same complexity with the print data and stores the date stored in the RAM 23, that is, the print data. Those print data are sorted so that the newer one of the date received by the printer 1 is higher than the older one (S1733). When the sorting of the print data is completed, the CPU 24 ends the RIP order determination process and returns to the print preparation start process shown in FIG.

  After executing the RIP order determination process, the CPU 24 starts RIP of print data (S174). At this time, RIP of print data is performed in the order determined by the RIP order determination process.

  Thereafter, the CPU 24 starts the warm-up of the print engine 11 (S175), ends the print preparation start process, and returns to the accumulation print process shown in FIG.

  The complexity of the print data is calculated by the complexity calculation process. The flow of the complexity calculation process is shown in FIG.

  The complexity calculation process is executed when the printer 1 receives print data from an external terminal. In the complexity calculation process, the CPU 24 determines whether the file format of the print data is an image format, that is, a bitmap format or a JPEG format (S41).

  If the file format of the print data is an image format (S41: YES), the CPU 24 sets the complexity of the print data to 0 (S42), and ends the complexity calculation process.

  If the file format of the print data is not an image format (S41: NO), that is, if the file format of the print data is a command format, the CPU 24 determines how many commands in the file of the print data take time for RIP. It is counted whether it exists (S43). As a command requiring a long time for RIP, when the print data is a PDF file, a shading command for adding gradation to pixels can be exemplified, and a fill command for overprint enable setting can be exemplified.

  Then, the CPU 24 determines the number (count number) of commands requiring a long time for RIP as the complexity of the print data (S44), and ends the complexity calculation process.

<Processing after Step S25>
In the process of step S25 executed subsequent to the process of step S19, as shown in FIG. 7, the CPU 24 operates the operation unit 14 to request a print start of print data designated by the user. It is determined whether it has been input (S25).
If the authentication of the user is successful, a screen for inquiring of the user about designation of print data is displayed. On the inquiry screen, for example, a list of print data transmitted from an external terminal by a user who has succeeded in authentication and stored in the RAM 23 is displayed on the display unit 15. At this time, when the user designates print data to be printed from the list, the CPU 24 determines that a request for selection of print data has been input.

  When the print data is designated (S25: YES), the CPU 24 executes preparation processing immediately before printing (S26). A flow of preparation processing just before printing is shown in FIG.

  In the processing immediately before printing, the CPU 24 determines whether print data designated by the user has already been RIPped (S261).

  If all print data designated by the user has been RIPped (S261: YES), the CPU 24 ends the preparation process immediately before printing and returns to the process shown in FIG.

  If all print data designated by the user is not RIP-ed (S261: NO), the CPU 24 determines whether or not RIP of print data designated by the user is in progress (S262).

  When the RIP of the print data designated by the user is in progress (S262: YES), the CPU 24 executes the user designated data RIP processing (S263), ends the preparation processing immediately before printing, and returns to the processing shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the RIP of the print data designated by the user is not being performed (S262: NO), the CPU 24 interrupts the RIP that is currently being executed and executes the RIP processing of the user designated data (S263). And return to the process shown in FIG.

  In the user-specified data RIP process, as shown in FIG. 11, the CPU 24 executes RIP of user-specified print data (S2631). If RIP of user-specified print data is being executed, execution of that RIP is continued.

  Thereafter, the CPU 24 determines whether or not RIP of all print data designated by the user is completed (S2632).

  When the RIP of all print data designated by the user is not completed (S2632: NO), the CPU 24 determines whether or not the memory full of the RAM 23 (free space decreases to a predetermined value or less) occurs during the RIP. (S2633).

  If memory fullness of the RAM 23 has not occurred (S2633: NO), the CPU 24 continues the execution of RIP of print data specified by the user (S2631).

  If memory fullness of the RAM 23 occurs during execution of RIP of print data designated by the user (S2633: YES), the CPU 24 deletes print data not user designated by the user most recently RIPed from the RAM 23 (S2634), Execution of RIP of print data designated by the user is continued (S2631).

  When the RIP of all print data designated by the user is completed (S2632: YES), the CPU 24 ends the user designated data RIP processing, and returns to the processing shown in FIG.

  After completing the preparation process immediately before printing, the CPU 24 controls the print engine 11 to start printing of print data designated by the user (S27).

  After starting printing, the CPU 24 resumes the interrupted RIP (print preparation process) when the RIP of print data other than the print data specified by the user is interrupted in the preparation process just before printing. Thereafter, the CPU 24 determines again whether or not a request for starting printing of print data has been input by the user.

  If a state in which a print start request for print data is not input continues for a predetermined time, the CPU 24 performs a timeout (S29: YES). In this case, after executing the print preparation end processing shown in FIG. 4 (S31), the CPU 24 shifts the display of the display unit 15 of the printer 1 to the standby screen (S32), and the processing shown in FIG. End the accumulation print process.

  Further, in a state where a print start request for print data is not input, the CPU 24 determines whether or not a logout operation by the user has been performed until a timeout is determined (S30). The user can log out of the printer 1 by operating the operation unit 14 and pressing the logout key displayed on each screen of the display unit 15. When the logout operation is performed (S30: YES), the CPU 24 shifts the display of the display unit 15 of the printer 1 to the standby screen after executing the print preparation termination process shown in FIG. 4 (S31). (S32), the process shown in FIG. 7, that is, the accumulation print process is ended.

<Function effect>
As described above, by performing RIP in order from the print data with the highest degree of complexity, it is possible to suppress a delay in the execution of printing because the RIP of the print data is not completed. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the total time required to print an image related to a plurality of print data.

  In addition, when RIP of print data specified by the user is not completed, if RIP of print data other than the print data specified by the user is executed, the RIP is interrupted and RIP of the print data specified by the user is performed. To be executed. Therefore, the user's request can be reflected while enhancing the overall FPOT.

  If memory fullness of the RAM 23 occurs during execution of RIP of print data designated by the user, the print data most recently RIPped is deleted from the RAM 23. The most recently RIPped print data is deleted from the RAM 23 because it is less complex than the other RIPped print data and the RIP does not take much time. Is efficient.

  If user-designated print data has the same complexity, it is preferable that the new print data of the date received by the printer 1 is RIPped in preference to the print data of the old date. This is because the new print data of the date received by the printer 1 is more likely to be printed by the user than the print data of the old date.

<Modification>
As mentioned above, although two embodiment of this invention was described, this invention can also be implemented with another form.

  For example, the present invention is not limited to a printer having only a printing function for printing an image on a sheet, and may be applied to a multifunction machine having a function such as a reading function for reading an image of a document in addition to the printing function. .

  In addition, various design changes can be made to the above-described configuration within the scope of the matters described in the claims.

1: Printer 11: Print engine 14: Operation unit 23: RAM
24: CPU

Claims (5)

A receiver for receiving print data;
A printing unit that prints an image relating to print data on a sheet;
A reception unit for receiving input,
A storage unit,
And a control unit,
The control unit
Print data storage processing in which print data received by the reception unit is stored in the storage unit in association with a user ID;
After execution of the print data storage process, in response to the reception unit receiving the input of the user ID and password, if the combination of the received user ID and password is correct, it is determined that the authentication is successful, and the combination is correct Authentication processing that determines authentication failure if there is no
When a user ID is input to the reception unit, print data associated with the user ID is extracted from the storage unit in response to the user ID received by the reception unit being uniquely determined Extraction processing,
Print preparation start processing for starting print preparation for causing the print unit to print an image related to print data extracted by the print data extraction processing;
In response to the determination that the authentication is successful in the authentication process, or after the determination that the authentication is successful in the authentication process, the control unit controls the printing unit in response to an instruction to start printing being received. And a printing start process for starting printing of an image related to print data for which printing preparation has been completed. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The print preparation start process includes a raster image conversion process of converting the extracted print data into a raster image,
When the control unit extracts a plurality of print data from the storage unit in the print data extraction process, the raster image conversion process sequentially converts print data, which takes a long time to convert to a raster image, into raster images. Do the printing device. The printing apparatus according to claim 2,
The control unit
When a plurality of print data are extracted from the storage unit in the print data extraction process, the reception unit can receive an input for designating print data to be printed out of the plurality of extracted print data,
When the reception unit receives an input for designating print data to be printed, the image according to the specified print data when the reception unit receives an input for instructing start of printing by the printing unit. A printing device for interrupting the print preparation of the image relating to the print data being prepared for printing, and starting the print preparation for the image relating to the designated print data. The printing apparatus according to claim 3,
A deletion process of deleting print data most recently prepared for printing from the storage unit when the storage capacity of the storage unit is reduced to a predetermined value or less during preparation for printing an image related to the designated print data. Run the printing device. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein
The control unit
In the print data storage process, the print data to be received by the reception unit is stored in the storage unit in association with the received date.
A printing apparatus for starting print preparation by prioritizing an image related to print data with a new date prior to an image related to print data with an old date when a plurality of print data are extracted from the storage unit in the print data extraction process;

Images