JP2522799B2 - Printer print control method - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer print control method applicable to a printer capable of double-sided printing or multiplex printing, and in particular, a method of circulating a plurality of recording papers in an apparatus. The present invention relates to a print control method for a printer, which controls the feeding of recording paper so that the printing is performed in the order of pages on the surface of each recording paper.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, a laser beam printer as shown in FIG. 3 has been proposed as an apparatus of this type.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a double-sided printing type laser beam printer. Reference numeral 1 denotes an external host including a computer or the like, which outputs image printing information to the printer control device 2. An image information storage device 3 temporarily takes in image print information sent from the external host 1 based on a synchronizing signal output from the printer control device 2. A printer body (print engine) 4 forms an image according to a known electrostatic photography process based on the raster data for one line read from the image information storage device 3 by the printer control device 2.

The printer body 4 is roughly divided into a paper feed unit, a printing unit, a paper transport unit, and a paper discharge unit. The paper feed unit is housed in a paper cassette (paper feed cassette) 5, a paper feed roller 6, and a paper cassette 5. It is composed of cut paper (recording paper) 7 and the like, and has a function of feeding the cut paper 7 into the printer body 4 by rotation of the paper feed roller 6.

The printing unit is composed of a laser scanner 8, a laser emission unit (laser unit) 9, a folding mirror 10, a single sheet charger 12, a cleaner 13, a photosensitive drum 14, a developing device 15, and a transfer / separation charger 16. The laser unit 9 is a laser beam modulated by the image print information from the printer controller 2.
A photosensitive drum 14 which emits a laser beam 11 and is deflected by a laser scanner 8 and rotated by a folding mirror 10.
The top is horizontally scanned at a constant speed. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 14 by this scanning is visualized by the developing device 15, and the toner image is transferred onto the fed recording paper 7. The paper transport unit is composed of various guide plates, a transport belt, a transport roller, and the like. The registration roller 18, the photosensitive drum 14, the fixing device 17,
A direction paper flapper 19 and a first paper conveyance path that goes around the paper discharge roller 22, and the first paper conveyance path is branched by the direction flapper 19 to form an intermediate tray 20 and a double-sided paper feed roller (refeed roller). 21, which is composed of a second paper transport path that goes around the registration rollers 18 and circulates (returns) to the first paper transport path, and the first transport path mainly functions as a transport path used in the electrophotographic process. The second transport path functions as a reverse transport path that reverses the front and back of the recording paper 7, and is used for double-sided printing or multiple printing.

The paper discharge unit is composed of a paper discharge roller 22 and a paper discharge tray 23, and stacks (stacks) the recording papers 7 on which double-sided printing, single-sided printing, single-sided multiple printing, etc. have been completed.

[Double-sided printing sequence for one sheet] With the above configuration, double-sided printing control for one sheet (two pages) by the printer control device 2 is executed as follows.

First, the paper feed roller 6 is driven to feed the recording paper 7,
The sheet is conveyed to the registration roller 18 (while the registration roller 18 is stopped). Then, the image information to be printed on the first page is read from the image information storage device 3 and output to the laser unit 9. A laser beam 11 modulated by the image information of the first page is output from the laser unit 9. The laser beam 11 also causes the photosensitive drum 14 to
When the front end of the image formed on the transfer / separation charger 16 reaches the transfer / separation charger 16, the registration roller 18 is rotated at the timing when the front end of the recording paper 7 reaches the same position.

Then, when the recording paper 7 is conveyed from the registration roller 18 toward the fixing device 17, one side of the recording paper 7 is transferred along with the conveyance.
The image print information of the page is printed. Furthermore, the fixing device 17
Direction flapper so that the recording paper 7 that has passed through is conveyed toward the above-described second paper conveyance path, that is, the intermediate tray 20 direction.
19 is driven in the upward direction in the figure, for example. Direction flapper
The recording paper 7 whose direction is controlled by 19 and whose printing on the first side is completed is turned upside down by the intermediate tray 20 and is conveyed to the position where the registration roller 18 is arranged by the drive of the re-feeding roller 21. Stop. Then, the image information of the second page is printed on the second surface (rear surface of the first surface) of the re-fed recording paper 7 as in the first surface printing sequence. However, in this case, the printer control device 2 outputs the image print information of the second page to the laser unit 9, the image print information of the second page is transferred to the second surface of the recording paper 7 being conveyed, and the fixing of the subsequent stage is performed. The toner image transferred by the container 17 is fixed, and the recording paper 7 having the images formed on the first surface and the second surface is discharged to the discharge tray 23. Therefore, the direction flapper 19 is controlled to control the recording paper. Double-sided printing (2-page printing) of 71 sheets is completed, and double-sided hard copy can be obtained.

[Double-Sided Printing Sequence for Plural Sheets] Next, a double-sided printing sequence for a plurality of sheets will be described.

As a double-sided printing sequence for a plurality of sheets, there are the following two typical control methods.

The first method is a method in which double-sided printing is continuously performed one sheet at a time, but the second conveyance path has two sheets for the paper size of the recording paper 7 (especially the recording paper length in the conveyance direction). Since the above cases are common, according to this method, the throughput during double-sided printing is significantly reduced.

Therefore, in general, the double-sided printing sequence according to the second method is often adopted.

In the second method, cut sheets are continuously fed from the paper feed cassette 5 at the minimum paper interval possible in the printing process, and the first surface is printed on each recording paper 7. further,
The recording paper 7 is sequentially moved to the intermediate tray by driving the direction flapper 19.
20, lead to refeed roller 21. Continuous feeding from the paper feeding cassette 5 is performed until the first recording paper 7 reaches the re-feeding roller 21. When the first sheet reaches the re-feed roller 21, the re-feed roller 21 moves the first sheet of recording paper 7 next to the recording sheet 7 that has already been fed to the position where the registration roller 18 is arranged at that time. The paper is fed, and the second surface is printed on the first recording paper 7.

Next, the paper is fed from the paper feeding cassette 5 again, and then the paper is fed from the paper refeeding roller 21 during that time.
That is, after the first sheet of recording paper 7 reaches the re-feed roller 21, the paper feed from the paper feed cassette 5 and the re-feed roller 21 are performed.
Alternately feed from. At this time, the direction flapper 19 guides the recording paper 7 fed from the re-feeding roller 21, that is, the recording paper 7 on which double-sided printing is completed, to the paper ejection tray 23, and the recording paper 7 fed from the paper feeding cassette 5 is The upper and lower operations are alternately repeated so as to guide the recording paper 7 toward the intermediate tray 20 to control the conveyance direction of the recording paper 7.

When the planned number of sheets to be printed has been fed from the sheet feeding cassette 5, the sheet is continuously fed from the re-feeding roller 21 until the recording paper 7 is exhausted in the machine to print the planned number of sheets on both sides. finish.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a conventional double-sided printing paper feed control operation procedure. Note that (1) to (12) indicate each step.

First, the printer control device 2 determines whether or not all scheduled pages have been printed (1). If YES, the control is terminated. If NO, it is determined whether or not the paper feeding from the paper feeding cassette 5 is completed. (2) If NO, it is judged whether the cassette / double-sided alternate paper feed mode is in progress (3), and if YES, it is further judged whether the previous page is paper feed from the paper refeed roller 21 (4). If YES, the sheet feeding from the sheet feeding cassette 5 is designated (5), and the process proceeds to step (11) and thereafter.

On the other hand, if the judgment in step (4) is NO, the process proceeds to step (10) and thereafter.

On the other hand, in the case of NO in the step (3), it is judged whether or not the recording sheet 7 exists on the re-feeding roller 21 (6). If NO, the process returns to step (5), and if YES, the cassette is returned. A print sequence in the double-sided alternate paper feed mode is started (7), paper feed from the paper refeed roller 21 is designated (8), and the process proceeds to step (11) and thereafter.

On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step (2) is YES, the cassette / double-sided alternate feeding mode is canceled (9), and the re-feeding roller is set.
Specify paper feed from 21 (10).

Next, when the paper feed from the paper feed cassette 5 is designated, it is judged whether there is no recording paper 7 in the paper feed cassette 5 and the paper cannot be fed (there is an error) (11), and if YES, the control ends. If NO, feed recording paper 7 from the designated paper feed port (1
2), end the control.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining a conventional page print control operation procedure. Note that (1) to (9) indicate each step.

It is judged whether all pages have been printed (1). If NO, it is judged whether it is the image information output timing (2). If NO, the control is ended. If YES, the paper is fed from the re-feed roller 21. If it is NO, the table page counter value stored in the memory of the printer controller 2 is set in the output page counter (4), and the table page counter is incremented by "2" (5). Then, the image information output of the page indicated by the output page counter is started (6), and the control is ended.

On the other hand, if YES in step (3), the back page counter value is set in the output page counter (7),
The back page counter is incremented by "2" (8), and the process returns to step (6).

On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step (1) is YES, an initial value is set in the front / back page counter (9), and the control ends.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining a conventional page print output state, where a solid line rectangle shows the front surface, corresponds to the recording paper 7 fed from the paper feed cassette 5, and a broken line rectangle shows the back surface. The number in the solid line rectangle or the broken line rectangle corresponds to the recording paper 7 fed from the re-feeding roller 21, and indicates the page number.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, if a paper run-out occurs when the planned number of prints is fed from the paper feed cassette 5 (generally, a paper feed means outside the printer) during the continuous printing operation, the condition of step (11) shown in FIG. Is established, the sheet cannot be fed and the printing sequence is interrupted.

Therefore, the recording paper 7 that has not been fed from the re-feeding roller 21 remains in a standby state inside the print engine 4 until the recording paper (cut paper) 7 is refilled in the paper feeding cassette 5 by an operator or the like. .

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, if the paper feed cassette 5 runs out of paper when trying to feed the fifth sheet (printing of the ninth page) of cassette paper feed (solid line rectangle), The number of cassettes fed up to 4 sheets (printing of the 1,3,5,7 page) to 2 sheets of the re-feed roller 21 (2,4 pages)
The number of printed sheets minus the (printing of page) is one side (front side)
Only the printed matter remains in the machine of the print engine 4.

At this time, if some error occurs in the print engine 4, for example, an error due to a momentary power failure, the print sequence is reset to the initial state.
The recording paper 7 remaining in the machine is wasted, and reprinting of the already printed image information is forced, which seriously impairs the printing efficiency.

In general, in the case of a printer connected to a computer or the like, there are few cases in which the operator constantly monitors the printing state, so that the paper feed cassette 5 generated during the above cassette / double-sided alternate paper feed mode process is processed. It takes a considerable amount of time to recognize the recording paper shortage state, and further it takes more time for the operator to recognize the paper shortage and fill the recording paper 7 to restore printing, and the printing stop state is long. Moreover, there is a problem that the recording paper remaining in the transport path is deformed.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and printing is successively performed on the first surface of a plurality of recording papers in different page order, and then on the second surface of the first recording paper. If the feeding of recording paper is monitored during the printing sequence to print consecutively numbered pages on the first side of the paper and feeding is not possible, it means that the recording paper is long. It does not remain in the road,
Therefore, in order to prevent the deformation of the recording paper and quickly complete the printing in the order of pages, priority is given to the printing of different serial numbers on the second surface of the recording paper that has already been fed and remains. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a print control method for a printer in which a print sequence is changed and controlled so as to be performed manually.

[Means for solving problems]

A print control method for a printer according to the present invention comprises a storage means for storing and reading out image print information successively for each page, and image print information for two pages of the image print information on the first surface of a recording paper. And printing means for separately printing on the second surface, control means for controlling the storage means and the printing means, and paper feeding means for feeding recording paper to the printing means.
A print control method for a printer, comprising: a paper re-feeding unit that feeds the printed recording paper again to the printing unit,
Until the first recording sheet printed on the first side reaches the introduction section to the printing means again, different pages are continuously printed on the first side of a plurality of new recording sheets fed by the sheet feeding means. Are sequentially printed and arranged in the conveying path, and then, on the second surface of the first recording paper, a serial number page is printed with respect to the page recorded on the first surface of this paper, and thereafter. Printing of a page following the different page on the first side of another new recording sheet fed by the sheet feeding means, and recording sheet printed on the first side fed by the re-feeding means Alternately printing the consecutive pages on the second side of the sheet, ejecting the recording paper on which the first side and the second side are printed, and obtaining the printing in the order of pages. During the paper feeding process from the paper feeding means and the paper refeeding means, a paper feeding monitoring for monitoring the possibility of feeding paper from the paper feeding means is performed. Based on the monitoring result that there is no paper feed, the recording paper remaining in the transport path is preferentially fed from the re-feeding unit, and the print page order determined by a predetermined print sequence is changed. The reprinted recording paper, the pages with serial numbers of the pages printed on the first surface are printed on the second surface, and the residual recording paper printed on the first surface and the second surface is discharged. It is a thing.

[Action]

According to the present invention, during the paper feeding process from the paper feeding unit and the re-feeding unit, the paper feeding monitoring for monitoring the paper feeding possibility from the paper feeding unit is performed, and based on the monitoring result that the paper feeding is impossible. Then, the remaining recording paper is preferentially fed from the re-feeding means, the print page order determined by a predetermined print sequence is changed, and the re-fed recording paper is printed on the first side. Pages having different serial numbers from the printed pages are printed on the second side, and the residual recording paper on which the first side and the second side are printed is discharged. That is, when the recording paper cannot be fed, the normal printing sequence is interrupted, the printing on the first side has already been completed, and the printing sheet remains on the conveyance path to wait for the printing on the second side. It is possible to immediately start the printing sequence of the second surface on the recording paper and discharge the remaining recording paper to the outside of the machine.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a flow chart for explaining an example of a printer control method showing an embodiment of the present invention. Note that (1)
~ (15) shows each step.

First, the printer control device 2 determines whether or not all scheduled pages have been printed (1). If YES, the control is terminated. If NO, it is determined whether or not the paper feeding from the paper feeding cassette 5 is completed. (2) If NO, it is judged whether the cassette / double-sided alternate paper feed mode is in progress (3), and if YES, it is further judged whether the previous page is paper feed from the paper refeed roller 21 (4). If YES, the sheet feeding from the sheet feeding cassette 5 is designated (5), and the process proceeds to step (11) and thereafter.

On the other hand, if the judgment in step (4) is NO, the process proceeds to step (10) and thereafter.

On the other hand, in the case of NO in the step (3), it is judged whether or not the recording sheet 7 exists on the re-feeding roller 21 (6). If NO, the process returns to step (5), and if YES, the cassette is returned. A print sequence in the double-sided alternate paper feed mode is started (7), paper feed from the paper refeed roller 21 is designated (8), and the process proceeds to step (11) and thereafter.

On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step (2) is YES, the cassette / double-sided alternate feeding mode is canceled (9), and the re-feeding roller is set.
Specify paper feed from 21 (10).

Next, it is determined whether there is no recording paper 7 in the paper feed cassette 5 when the paper feed from the paper feed cassette 5 is designated and the paper cannot be fed (there is an error) (11). Paper is fed from the mouth (12), and control ends.

On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step (11) is YES, it is determined whether or not the error content is a cassette paper out error due to the cassette paper feed designation (13), and if NO, control is terminated without feeding paper. If YES, the recording paper 7 that has already been fed from the paper feed cassette 5 and has not been fed from the re-feed roller 21, that is, is being conveyed toward the re-feed roller 21 or has already been re-feed roller. The printer controller 2 determines whether the recording paper 7 in the standby state has reached 21 (14), and NO (when there is no cassette from the first cassette paper feed of the printing operation) If only), control is terminated without feeding paper, and if YES, the printing sequence shown in FIG. 4 is changed, and cassette feeding designation is changed to re-feeding roller feeding designation (15). Return to (12), and then feed paper from the refeed roller 21. Priority is given to the image forming process for the recording paper 7 remaining in the double-sided conveyance path.

Therefore, when the recording paper 7 is exhausted from the paper feed cassette 5 before the printing of the planned number of prints is completed and the recording paper 7 having only the front surface printed remains in the printer, the remaining recording paper 7 The printing on the back side of is prioritized (takes initiative).

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, if the recording paper 7 of the paper feed cassette 5 runs out of paper when the fifth paper of the cassette paper feed (printing of the ninth page) is tried to be fed, After printing the second sheet (printing the fourth page) from the paper roller 21,
Attempting to feed the fifth sheet of the cassette (printing the ninth page), but since there is no recording sheet 7 in the sheet cassette 5, the third sheet of the re-feeding roller 21 (the sixth page) Printing)
Is fed, and if there is no cassette paper after that, the fourth sheet (printing of the eighth page) from the re-feeding roller 21 is further fed. At this time, the recording paper 7 remaining in the inside of the print engine 4 becomes zero, and the paper feed cassette 5
The print engine 4 is in a standby state until the recording paper 7 is refilled. That is, even if some power trouble occurs in the print engine 4 during this period, the recording paper 7 remaining in the machine is zero, so that it is possible to prevent the loss of information and the waste of paper due to reprinting.

Note that Δt in FIG. 2 indicates a waiting time (return time), and after the waiting time Δt has elapsed, the normal printing sequence is restored.

In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the laser beam printer capable of double-sided printing has been described.
The printer device is not limited to double-sided printing or a printing method, and may be a printer device having a single or plural paper feed ports and a means for circulating a sheet-shaped recording medium once fed to the printer body and re-feeding it to a printable position again. For example, this invention can be easily applied.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the recording paper is long and does not remain in the conveyance path. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the deformation of the recording paper and to quickly complete the printing in the page order. Produce the effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flow chart for explaining an example of a printer control method showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining a page print output state according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a double-sided printing type laser beam printer. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a conventional double-sided printing paper feed control operation procedure, FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a conventional page print control operation procedure, and FIG. 6 is a conventional page print operation. It is a schematic diagram explaining an output state. In the figure, 1 is an external host, 2 is a printer control device, 3 is an image information recording device, 4 is a printer body, 5 is a paper feed cassette, 6 is a paper feed roller, 7 is recording paper, 8 is a laser scanner, and 9 is Laser unit, 10 folding mirror, 12 primary charger, 13 cleaner, 14 photosensitive drum, 15 developing unit, 16 transfer / separation charger, 17 fixing unit, 18 registration roller, 19 direction flapper , 20 is an intermediate tray, 21 is a sheet re-feeding roller, 22 is a sheet discharging roller, and 23 is a sheet discharging tray.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A storage means for storing and reading out image print information successively for each page, and image print information for two pages of the image print information is separately provided on a first side and a second side of a recording paper. Printing means for printing on the recording medium, control means for controlling the storage means and the printing means, paper feeding means for feeding the recording paper to the printing means, and feeding the printed recording paper again to the printing means. In the print control method of the printer including the sheet re-feeding unit, the new sheet is fed by the sheet feeding unit until the first recording sheet printed on the first side reaches the introduction section to the printing unit again. Different pages are successively printed on the first side of a plurality of recording papers and arranged in the conveying path, and then, on the second surface of the first recording paper, the first surface of this paper is recorded. Print the serial pages for the pages, and then feed the above Printing of a page following the different page on the first side of another new recording sheet fed by the means, and the second side of the recording sheet printed on the first side fed by the re-feeding means. Printing of consecutively numbered pages on the surface is alternately performed, and the recording paper on which the first surface and the second surface are printed is ejected to obtain printing in which the page order is uniform. During the paper feeding process from the re-feeding means, the paper feeding monitoring for monitoring the paper feeding possibility from the paper feeding means is performed, and the paper remains in the transport path based on the monitoring result indicating that the paper cannot be fed. The recording sheet is preferentially fed from the re-feeding unit, the print page order determined by a predetermined print sequence is changed, and the pages printed on the first side of the re-fed recording sheet are changed. Print serially numbered pages on the second side, and eject the residual recording paper with the first and second sides printed A print control method for a printer characterized by the above. 2. A page sequence of different pages printed on the first side of a plurality of new recording sheets fed by the sheet feeding means is 1 page, 3 pages, 5 pages, and then 1 page. The serial number page printed on the second side of the first recording paper on which is printed is 2 pages, and is printed on the first side of another new recording paper fed by the paper feeding means thereafter. The pages following the different pages are pages 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15, and the serial number printed on the second side of the recording paper fed by the re-feeding means. There are 4 pages, 6 pages, 8 pages, 10 pages, 12 pages, 14 pages, 16 pages, and the alternately printed page order is 7 pages, 4 pages.
Page, page 9, page 6, page 11, page 8 ...
The print control method for a printer according to claim (1), characterized in that.