JP2022035118A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a printer improving convenience when performing double-side printing using a printer for a single-side printing.SOLUTION: A printer 1 is equipped with a loading portion on which sheets can be loaded, a printing portion 12 that performs printing on one side surface of the sheet, and a drive control portion 15. The drive control portion, when receiving the first print job instructing both-side printing and then further receiving a second print job, causes the printing portion to perform printing on a first surface of a sheet based on a first print job and obtains information indicating the sheet used in the printing as first information, obtains information indicating a sheet newly loaded on the loading portion after the printing on the first surface of the sheet based on the first print jog is completed as second information, performs printing on a second surface of the sheet based on the first print job when the first to second information satisfy a predetermined condition, and performs printing based on the second print job and suspends printing on the second surface of the sheet based on the first print job when the first to second information do not satisfy the predetermined condition.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention mainly relates to a printing apparatus.

In Patent Document 1, for example, an odd-numbered page is printed on one side of a predetermined sheet using a printing device for single-sided printing, and then an even-numbered page is printed on the other side of the same sheet. It is described that double-sided printing is realized. In this case, the user is required to reset the sheet on which the printing on one side has been completed in the printing device after the printing on one side is completed and before the printing on the other side is started.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-127520

According to Patent Document 1, if the next print job is input to the printing apparatus before the sheet is set, the next print job can be suspended, so that the next print job can be held for a long time. It may not be implemented, and there was room for improvement from the viewpoint of convenience.

An exemplary object of the present invention is to make it possible to improve convenience when performing double-sided printing using a printing device for single-sided printing with a relatively simple configuration.

One aspect of the present invention relates to a printing device, which is driven by a loading unit capable of loading a sheet having a first surface and a second surface, and a printing unit that prints on one side of the sheet. A printing device including a control unit, wherein when a first print job instructing double-sided printing is received, the drive control unit prints a sheet based on the first print job on the first side. The information indicating the sheet used in the printing is acquired as the first information, and the sheet is newly loaded on the loading unit after the printing of the sheet based on the first printing job on the first surface is completed. When the information indicating the sheet is acquired as the second information and the second print job different from the first print job is further received after receiving the first print job, the first to the second information are predetermined. When the conditions are satisfied, the sheet based on the first print job is printed on the second surface, and when the first to second information does not satisfy the predetermined conditions, printing based on the second print job is performed. It is characterized in that the printing on the second side of the sheet based on the first printing job is suspended.

According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the convenience when performing double-sided printing using a printing device for single-sided printing.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the printing apparatus which concerns on embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the appearance side surface in one aspect of a printing apparatus. The schematic diagram which shows the appearance side surface in another aspect of a printing apparatus. The flowchart which shows an example of the drive control method in a printing apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the invention. Two or more of the plurality of features described in the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. In addition, the same or similar configuration will be given the same reference number, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a schematic view showing an external aspect of one aspect of the printing apparatus 1. FIG. 3 shows a schematic view showing an external aspect of another aspect of the printing apparatus 1.

The printing device 1 is an inkjet recording type printer that can communicate with an external device 9 which is also called a host device or the like by wire or wirelessly, and receives a print job from the external device 1 to print. The printing device 1 may be expressed as a recording device, an image forming device, or the like. The printing device 1 includes a loading unit 11, a printing unit 12, a transport unit 13, a discharging unit 14, a drive control unit 15, and a signal generating unit 16.

The loading unit 11 is configured to be capable of loading a sheet-shaped print medium or recording medium (hereinafter, simply referred to as “sheet”) SH. In the present embodiment, the loading unit 11 is configured to be able to move up and down according to the load capacity of the seat SH, and holds the loaded seat (hereinafter referred to as “loading sheet”) SH so as to press it from below.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the user can load the sheet SH on the loading unit 11 by moving the loading unit 11 downward, and then the loading unit 11 moves upward and the loading sheet The top edge of the SH (top sheet SH) is locked at position P1. When the sheet SH is used by printing, the loading unit 11 moves upward according to the amount of the sheet SH used, as shown in FIG.

The raising and lowering of the loading unit 11 may be performed by an operation input to a predetermined switch by the user, or may be performed by the user manually moving the loading unit 11 itself.

In the following description, one of the front surface and the back surface of each sheet SH is referred to as a first surface, and the other is referred to as a second surface. The sheet SH may be typically made of a paper material, but may be made of another material such as a cloth material or a resin material.

The printing unit 12 is configured to be capable of printing on one side of the sheet SH, that is, the printing apparatus 1 is a printer for single-sided printing. A known serial head or line head may be used for the printing unit 12. The printing unit 12 may be expressed as a printing head, a recording head, or the like.

The transport unit 13 includes, for example, one or more transport rollers and an electric motor for driving them / or the like, and is configured to be capable of transporting the sheet SH from the loading unit 13 to the printing unit 12. In the present embodiment, the loading sheet SH is conveyed by the conveying unit 13 in order from the highest one. Concomitantly, the transport unit 13 may further include one or more transport rollers that transport the printed sheet SH from the print unit 12 to the discharge unit 14.

The ejection unit 14 includes, for example, an ejection tray, and is configured to be capable of ejecting the sheet SH printed by the printing unit 12. A printed sheet SH is loaded on the discharge unit 14.

The drive control unit 15 has a CPU (central processing unit) 151, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 152, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 153, and controls the drive of the entire system of the printing device 1. For example, the drive control unit 15 develops print data on the RAM 153 based on a print job from the external device 9 by the CPU 151, stores necessary print information in the ROM 152, and thereby drives the above-mentioned individual elements. Take control. In this way, the transport unit 13 transports a single sheet SH or two or more sheet SHs in order from the loading unit 11 to the printing unit 12. During that time, the printing unit 12 prints on the conveyed sheet SH, and the printed sheet SH is discharged to the discharging unit 14.

The details of the control content of the drive control unit 15 according to the present embodiment will be described later, but the function may be realized by a semiconductor device such as an ASIC (Integrated Circuit for Specific Applications). That is, the function of the drive control unit 15 described in the present specification may be realized by either hardware or software.

The signal generation unit 16 is configured to be able to generate a predetermined signal, although the details will be described later.

As described above, the printing apparatus 1 has a structure or mechanism for single-sided printing, but is configured to be able to handle a printing job instructing double-sided printing. In the case of double-sided printing, the user will take out the sheet SH printed only on the first side and discharged to the discharge unit 14 from the discharge unit 14 and load it again on the loading unit 11. For example, only odd-numbered pages are printed on the first surface of one or more sheets SH, and then only even-numbered pages are printed on the second surface of the same sheet SH. Here, it is assumed that printing is performed in the order of the first side and the second side, but this order may be reversed (printing may be performed in the order of the second side and the first side).

On the other hand, before the user loads the sheet SH on the loading unit 11, the next print job may be newly input from the external device 9 to the printing device 1. In such a case, the next print job may remain on hold until the sheet SH is loaded on the loading unit 11. Alternatively, it is conceivable that a sheet SH different from the one printed only on the first surface may be loaded on the loading unit 11. In such a case, the sheet SH may be consumed unnecessarily. Therefore, a technique advantageous for improving the convenience of the printing apparatus 1 in such a case is required.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a drive control method according to the present embodiment. This flowchart is mainly executed by the drive control unit 15. It is assumed that this flowchart is started in response to the fact that the printing apparatus 1 is ready for printing.

The outline of this flowchart is, for example, when a print job (referred to as a first print job J1) is input and then a next print job (referred to as a second print job J2) is further input, the loading unit 11 is provided. The control mode is changed based on the newly loaded seat SH. Here, the print job J1 shall instruct double-sided printing. In the present embodiment, the print job J2 is instructed to perform single-sided printing for ease of understanding, but as another embodiment, it may be instructed to perform double-sided printing.

During this flowchart, in the drive control unit 15, for example, using the RAM 153, the individual contents of the print job (including the print jobs J1 to J2) to be processed, the sheet SH used for printing based on the print job. Information indicating the amount (for example, the number of sheets, total weight) is appropriately managed. The print job indicates, for example, either single-sided printing or double-sided printing, an image to be printed on an individual sheet SH, a surface of the sheet SH on which the image should be formed (ie, first and second surfaces). Information such as (any of the faces) is shown. It should be noted that the concept of an image referred to here includes characters, symbols, figures, photographs, etc., as well as blank spaces that can be formed between them.

In step S1000 (hereinafter, simply referred to as “S1000”; the same applies to other steps described later), it is determined whether or not there is an unprocessed print job. If there is an unprocessed print job, the process proceeds to S1010, and if not, the process returns to S1000.

In S1010, the oldest unprocessed print job is read from the RAM 153.

In S1020, it is determined whether the print job read in S1010 indicates either single-sided printing or double-sided printing. As a result of the determination, in the case of single-sided printing (printing instruction for only the first side of the sheet SH), the process proceeds to S1030, and in the case of double-sided printing (printing instruction for both the first and second sides of the sheet SH). Proceed to S1040.

In S1030, based on the print job determined in S1020 to instruct single-sided printing, the sheet SH is sequentially conveyed from the loading unit 11 to the printing unit 12 by the conveying unit 13, and the first sheet SH is conveyed by the printing unit 12. Print on the surface. Upon completion of the printing, this print job is processed (deleted from the unprocessed print job).

In S1040, based on the print job determined in S1020 to instruct double-sided printing, the sheet SH is sequentially conveyed from the loading unit 11 to the printing unit 12 by the conveying unit 13, and first, the first surface of the sheet SH is conveyed. Is printed by the printing unit 12. After that, in S1045, information indicating the sheet SH used for the printing (referred to as the first information Inf1) is acquired, and the process proceeds to S1050.

In the present embodiment, the information Inf1 indicates the amount of the sheet SH conveyed by the conveying unit 13. In this case, the transport unit 13 may be provided with a sensor for measuring the amount of the transported sheet SH. Alternatively, the information Inf1 may indicate, for example, the amount of sheet SH transported from the loading unit 11 by the transport unit 13. In this case, the loading unit 11 may be provided with a sensor that measures the amount of seat SH used (for example, the moving distance of the loading unit 11). Alternatively, the information Inf1 may indicate the amount of sheet SH discharged to the discharge unit 14. In this case, the discharging unit 14 may be provided with a sensor for measuring the amount of discharged sheet SH (for example, the thickness / weight of the sheet SH loaded on the discharging unit 14).

In S1050, it is determined whether or not the sheet SH is newly loaded on the loading unit 11. This determination may be made based on whether or not the loading unit 11 has been raised or lowered (see FIGS. 2 and 3). When the sheet SH is newly loaded, the information indicating the amount of the newly loaded sheet SH is acquired in S1055 (referred to as the second information Inf2), and the process proceeds to S1060, and so on. If not, proceed to S1080.

In S1060, it is determined whether or not the information Inf1 to Inf2 satisfy a predetermined condition. In the present embodiment, when the difference between the amount of sheet SH indicated by information Inf1 and the amount of sheet SH indicated by information Inf2 is within a predetermined range (for example, within ± 10%), it is assumed that the above condition is satisfied. This indicates that the sheet SH used for printing on the first surface in double-sided printing of S1020 and the sheet SH newly loaded on the loading unit 11 substantially coincide with each other. Therefore, it is preferable that the above difference is within ± 5%, and it is more preferable that there is substantially no difference. If the above condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to S1070, and if not, the process proceeds to S1090.

In S1070, based on the print job determined in S1020 to instruct double-sided printing, the newly loaded sheet SH is sequentially conveyed from the loading unit 11 to the printing unit 12 by the conveying unit 13, and the sheet SH is transferred. The printing unit 12 prints on the second surface.

Here, in the structure according to the present embodiment, the loading sheet SH in the loading unit 11 is conveyed by the conveying unit 13 in order from the highest one (see FIGS. 2 and 3). Further, in this structure, the newly loaded sheet SH is further loaded on the existing loading sheet SH in the loading unit 11. Therefore, the printing on the second surface in S1070 is appropriately performed on the sheet SH further loaded on the existing loading sheet SH. Upon completion of the printing, this print job is processed (deleted from the unprocessed print job).

In S1080, it is determined whether or not the predetermined time has elapsed. If the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to S1090, and if not, the process returns to S1050.

In S1090, it is considered that the sheet SH newly loaded on the loading unit 11 and the sheet SH used for double-sided printing of S1020 are different from each other, or the sheet SH is not newly loaded on the loading unit 11. Based on, the processing exemplified below is executed.

First, printing on the second side of the sheet SH based on the print job determined in S1020 to instruct double-sided printing is temporarily suspended. The data for printing may be temporarily stored in the RAM 153. In addition, this print job is deleted from the unprocessed print job and is treated as a pending job. Next, the next unprocessed print job is read from the RAM 153 (similar to S1010), and it is determined whether the next print job indicates single-sided printing or double-sided printing (similar to S1020). ).

As a result of the above determination, if the next print job instructs single-sided printing, printing based on the next print job (printing on the first side) is performed (similar to S1030). Upon completion of the printing, the next print job is processed (deleted from the unprocessed print job).

On the other hand, as a result of the above determination, when the next print job instructs double-sided printing, the execution of printing based on the next print job is suppressed, and the next print job remains unprocessed. In this case, the next print job may be read out, determined, and printing may be executed or suppressed based on the result of the determination by the same procedure. According to S1090 as described above, among the subsequent unprocessed print jobs, those instructing single-sided printing can be appropriately executed in sequence (they are not left unexecuted for a long period of time). .).

As another example, if the result of the above determination is that the next print job instructs double-sided printing, the pending job may be canceled. In this case, the data temporarily stored in the RAM 153 (data for printing on the reserved second surface) will be deleted from the RAM 153. Ancillary / alternative, the cancellation of the pending job may be notified to the user. Further, this / these can be realized by the signal generated by the signal generation unit 16.

The external device 9 may be configured so that the canceled pending job can be output to the printing device 1 again as a new print job. As a result, when the user has forgotten to print on the second side (that is, when the sheet SH for which printing of only the first side has been completed is forgotten to be transferred from the discharging unit 14 to the loading unit 11). Can relatively easily instruct printing on the second surface by using the external device 9. This can be achieved relatively easily by using software applicable to the external device 9.

Considering the case where the print job J1 is input to the printing device 1 and then the print job J2 is further input (the print job J1 is instructed to perform double-sided printing), the above control mode is small as follows. Be tied up.

The drive control unit 15 prints on the first surface of the sheet SH based on the print job J1 by the printing unit 12, and acquires information Inf1 indicating the sheet SH used in the printing (S1040, S1045). Further, the drive control unit 15 acquires information Inf2 indicating the sheet SH newly loaded on the loading unit 11 after the printing on the first surface of the sheet SH based on the print job J1 is completed (S1050, S1055). In the present embodiment, the information Inf1 indicates the amount of the sheet SH used for printing on the first surface based on the print job J1, and the information Inf2 indicates the amount of the sheet SH newly loaded on the loading unit 11. Is shown.

After that, when the information Inf1 to Inf2 satisfy a predetermined condition, the drive control unit 15 prints on the second surface of the sheet SH based on the print job J1 (S1070). On the other hand, when the information Inf1 to Inf2 do not satisfy the above conditions, the drive control unit 15 performs printing based on the subsequent print job J2 and suspends printing on the second surface of the sheet SH based on the print job J1. (S1090).

As the above conditions, it is preferable that the amount of sheet SH indicated by information Inf1 and the amount of sheet SH indicated by information Inf2 match, but in the present embodiment, the difference between them is within a predetermined range (for example, ± 10). In the case of (within%), it is assumed that the above condition is satisfied (S1060). This gives priority to completing the print job J1 promptly, and makes it possible to prevent a situation in which the print job J2 (and other subsequent print jobs) is unnecessarily suspended.

A signal is generated when the information Inf1 to Inf2 do not satisfy the above conditions for a predetermined time after the completion of printing on the first surface based on the print job J1, or when the sheet SH is not newly loaded on the loading unit 11. The unit 16 can generate a predetermined signal. This signal may be, for example, a signal for notifying the user that printing on the first surface based on the print job J1 is completed, or cancels the remaining part of the print job J1 (to the second surface). It may be a signal for deleting data for printing).

In the present embodiment, a single discharge unit 14 is provided, but as another embodiment, the printing apparatus 1 may include two or more discharge units 14. For example, when the printing apparatus 1 includes two discharging units 14 (for distinction, one is referred to as a first discharging unit 14a and the other is referred to as a second discharging unit 14b), and the information Inf1 to Inf2 satisfy the above conditions. The discharge destination (14a or 14b) of the sheet SH may be changed depending on whether the sheet SH is discharged or not. That is, the printed sheet SH based on the print job J1 and the printed sheet SH based on the print job J2 are discharged and loaded in different discharge units 14, so that they are mixed. Such a situation can be appropriately prevented.

The invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the gist of the invention.

1: Printing device, 11: Loading unit, 12: Printing unit, 15: Drive control unit.

Claims (7)

A printing device including a loading unit capable of loading a sheet having a first surface and a second surface, a printing unit that prints on one surface of the sheet, and a drive control unit.
The drive control unit
When the first print job instructing double-sided printing is received, the printing unit prints the sheet based on the first printing job on the first side, and the information indicating the sheet used in the printing is given. The information indicating the sheet newly loaded in the loading unit after the completion of printing of the sheet based on the first printing job on the first surface is acquired as one information, and the information indicating the sheet newly loaded in the loading unit is acquired as the second information.
When a second print job different from the first print job is further received after receiving the first print job, and the first to second information satisfy a predetermined condition, a sheet based on the first print job. When the first to second information does not satisfy the predetermined conditions, printing is performed based on the second printing job and the sheet based on the first printing job is printed. A printing device characterized by suspending printing on two sides. The first information indicates the amount of sheet used for printing on the first surface based on the first print job.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second information indicates the amount of sheets newly loaded on the loading unit. Further provided with a transport section for transporting the sheet from the loading section to the printing section.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the drive control unit acquires the amount of sheets transported by the transport unit as the first information. A discharge unit capable of discharging the sheet printed by the printing unit is further provided.
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the drive control unit acquires the amount of sheets discharged to the discharge unit as the first information. With the discharge unit as the first discharge unit, a second discharge unit different from the first discharge unit is further provided.
The drive control unit
When the first to second information satisfy the predetermined condition, the sheet printed based on the first print job is discharged to the first discharge unit.
The fourth aspect of claim 4, wherein when the first to second information does not satisfy the predetermined condition, the sheet printed based on the second print job is discharged to the second discharge unit. Printing equipment. The condition that the first to second information satisfies the predetermined condition is characterized in that the difference between the amount of the sheet indicated by the first information and the amount of the sheet indicated by the second information is within a predetermined range. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5. Further equipped with a signal generator
When the first to second information do not satisfy the predetermined conditions for a predetermined time after the completion of printing on the first surface based on the first print job, and / or newly added to the loading unit. The printing according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein when the sheet is not loaded on the sheet, the signal generating unit generates a signal for canceling the printing of the rest of the first printing job. Device.

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