JP2886928B2 - Printing control device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention analyzes a print information output from an external device, generates dot information, and prints the generated dot information by a printing unit. About.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in this type of apparatus, input print information is processed on a page-by-page basis, and a print engine is controlled so that the processed print information is printed on both sides of a fed recording medium. Processing is in progress.

In addition to the above printing function, for example, while a series of print information (print data) is being output on both sides, a certain page is printed on the front side, and a paper feed tray different from the current paper feed tray is supplied. An apparatus configured so that paper can be fed from a printer has also been devised. In such an apparatus, a paper feed tray is automatically switched by a specific command, for example, a surface designation control code for printing print data on the front face, and only a page designated on the front face is fed from a different paper feed tray. There is also a proposal for providing an ancillary process activation prompting means.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in a printing apparatus capable of feeding paper from two upper and lower paper trays, for example, when the lower sheet is in A4 size and the upper sheet is in B4 size, the printing process is performed as described above. If the paper feed table is automatically switched by the designated control code, there is a problem that the size of the paper currently being printed is inconsistent, and the printing process cannot be performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem. At the time of analyzing a specific command, an accompanying process (for example, a paper feeder switching process) accompanying the specific command is performed based on the value of an initialization parameter file. It is an object of the present invention to obtain a printing apparatus that performs control (for example, whether or not to switch the paper feed tray) and functions only the processing of the specific command in accordance with the operation mode of the printing processing.

[Means and Actions for Solving the Problems]

A print control device according to the present invention is a print control device that analyzes print information output from an external device to generate dot information, and causes the printing unit to print the generated dot information. The operation mode includes a first operation mode for executing a first process based on the specific command and a second process associated with the first process, and a first operation mode for executing the first process without executing the second process. Control means having a second operation mode for executing the processing described above, storage means for previously storing setting data for setting an operation mode associated with the specific command, and print information output from an external device Determining means for determining whether or not the print command is the specific command, and when the print information is determined to be the specific command, the control means An operation mode corresponding to the setting data stored in the storage means is executed.

Preferably, the specific command is a surface designation command during double-sided printing processing, and the first processing is to close a page for which dot information is being created, and the closed page corresponds to a surface of a print medium. When the blank page corresponding to the back side is generated, the second processing is performed after the paper supply of the print medium on which the closed page is printed is performed. This is a process of feeding the next print medium from a different paper feed port.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a host computer which is connected to the outside and edits at least a character code and the character code or controls output of the character code. The print data (print information) including the control code is output to the printer unit.

An input buffer memory 2 temporarily stores print data sent from the host computer 1. A data analysis function unit 3 analyzes print data stored in the input buffer memory 2 and analyzes a specific control code (control command (in this embodiment, a surface designation control code)). Reference numeral 4 denotes a page buffer memory which stores a paper feed flag and print data after analysis in page units. Reference numeral 5 denotes an output processing function unit, which converts information in the page buffer memory 4 into corresponding dot pattern information and develops the same in the image buffer memory 6;
An instruction is issued to the I / F unit 7 to switch the paper feed tray. The printer I / F unit 7 transfers the dot pattern information in the image buffer memory 6 to the printer engine unit 8.

Reference numeral 13 denotes an external storage device in which an initialization parameter file has been written, and reference numeral 14 denotes an initialization parameter reading unit that reads the initialization parameter file from the external storage device and stores it in the RAM 15.

The printer engine unit 8 includes a plurality of paper feed trays for feeding a recording medium, and a known recording medium transport mechanism (not shown) for selectively printing print information on both sides / one side of the recording medium. ) Is provided.

The operations of the data analysis function unit 3 and the output processing function unit 5 are performed by the CPU 11 executing a later-described control program stored in the ROM 12. When a specific command is analyzed based on a command analysis result in print information analyzed by the data analysis function unit 3 serving as a data analysis unit, the output processing function unit 5 serving also as an accompanying process activation prompting unit and a control unit is provided. Depending on the value of the initialization parameter file stored in the RAM 15, the activation of a series of accompanying processes associated with the specific command is prompted, and a single command is used to execute a complex process, or only the original process of the specific command is caused to function. Is performed, and either process is executed. That is, the output processing function unit 5 performs control based on the command analysis result in the print information analyzed by the data analysis function unit 3 and the value of the initialization parameter file. When executing the accompanying process, the process of temporarily switching the sheet feeding tray for the recording medium (recording paper) before and after the specific page after the specific command analysis is performed by the specific command process (in this embodiment, the surface designation control code is used). Along with the prompt, a paper feed port for the recording medium is controlled as described later in conjunction with a series of page processing.

In addition, when the associated process activation is not executed, only the original processing of the specific command is executed after the analysis of the specific command.

 Next, the operation of FIG. 1 will be described.

In such a configuration, when the lower sheet feeding is instructed in the duplex printing, the host computer 1 sends the created print data to the input buffer memory 2. The data analysis function unit 3 analyzes the print data, and closes the page being created if the control code is a surface designation control code, and checks whether the closed page is front or back. If it is "back", the next process is performed as it is.

On the other hand, if it is “front”, the corresponding back page is created as a blank page, and the next page is printed on the front side.

For example, when the front side control code is analyzed at the beginning of the fourth page, the print data of the fourth page to be printed on the back side of the third page is printed on the front side of the fifth page, and the back side of the third page is blank. Become. This processing is the original function of the surface designation control code. According to the present invention, when the value of the initialization parameter file stored in the RAM 15 is set so as not to execute the associated process activation, only the above-described original function of the surface designation control code is performed. When the value of the initialization parameter file is set so as to execute the accompanying process, the following process is performed together. That is, since a function for switching the paper feed table is added in addition to the original function of the front surface designation control code, when a character code instructed to be printed on the front surface by the front surface designation control code is written in the page buffer memory 4. At the same time, accompanying this, the paper feed tray switching flag for the page is set to the upper row,
Continue to analyze the print data.

Next, when the print data to be printed on the front side is analyzed, the sheet feeder switching flag of the relevant page is set to the lower stage and written to the page buffer memory 4. The output processing function unit 5 converts the contents of the page buffer memory 4 written in this way into dot pattern information and develops them in the image buffer memory 6. Further, when the dot pattern developing process is completed, the printer I / F unit 7 is instructed to transfer the contents of the image buffer memory 6 to the printer engine unit 8 and, at the same time, the sheet feeder for the corresponding page in the page buffer memory 4 is switched. A series of processes for passing the instruction of the paper feed tray according to the instruction of the flag to the printer engine unit 8 through the printer I / F unit 7 is additionally executed.

In this way, the paper feeder is switched by the special control code for switching the paper feeder in the past, but the recording paper is fed from the upper line only by the front side control code, and the next page is fed again from the lower line. Is done. For this reason, it is possible to print chapter breaks, section breaks, and the like with colored paper without using a dedicated paper feed control code.

Also, if you operate with different upper and lower paper sizes,
If the value of the initialization parameter file according to the present invention is not activated, the printing can be performed without switching the paper feed tray.

Next, a print processing operation according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a print information processing procedure in the printing apparatus shown in FIG. In addition, (1) to (14) show each step.

First, print data is received from the host computer 1 to the input buffer memory 2 (1). Next, the data analysis function unit 3 determines whether the print data is completed (2),
If NO (during reception of print data), data analysis processing is executed (3).

Next, it is determined whether or not the code received by the data analysis function unit 3 is a surface designation control code (4).
The analyzed print data is written into the page buffer memory 4 (5). Next, it is determined whether or not one page of data has been written to the page buffer memory 4 (6). If NO, the process returns to step (1), and if YES, the process returns to step (1).
Go to 0) or later.

On the other hand, if the determination in step (4) is YES, the process proceeds to step (7), the page being created is closed, and the original processing of the surface designation control code is performed.

Next, the process proceeds to step (8), and it is determined whether to execute the associated process. If not, the process proceeds to step (10).
If it is to be executed, the process proceeds to step (9), and the sheet feeder switching flag for the front page is set to the upper stage.

Next, dot development from the page buffer memory 4 to the image buffer memory 6 is performed (step (10)). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the page to be output is the same as the sheet feeder of the previous page by the sheet feeder switch flag of the page in the page buffer memory 4 (step (11)). Instruct the printer I / F unit 7 to transfer the dot information in the image buffer memory 6 and switch the paper feed tray to 8 (step (12)), and return to step (1).

On the other hand, if YES in step (11), an instruction to transfer the dot information in the image buffer memory 6 is given to the printer I / F unit 7 (step (13)), and the process returns to step (1).

On the other hand, if the determination in step (2) is YES, it is determined whether data for one page is being created (step (14)). If NO, the process ends. If YES (during creation), Since there is unoutput data in the page buffer memory 4, the process returns to step (10).

[Other embodiments]

In the above description, one CPU 11 is used.
The output processing function unit 5 may be realized by providing a PU.

The source of the print data is the host computer 1, but may be a magnetic tape device, a disk device, or the like.

Further, although the specific control code is used as the surface designation control code, it may be a control code indicating a break in a series of data flow, for example, a control code such as job start, section start, and the like.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, as an operation mode related to a specific command, a first process based on the specific command and a second process accompanying the first process are executed. An operation mode, and a second operation mode in which the first processing is executed without executing the second processing. When the specific information is included in the print information from the external device, the operation mode is stored in the storage unit. Since the operation mode corresponding to the set data is executed, the setting data corresponding to the state of the printing apparatus and the like is set in the storage unit, so that the specific command can be changed without changing or correcting print information. An appropriate operation mode can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a print output control procedure of the embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Host computer 2 ... Input buffer memory 3 ... Data analysis function part 4 ... Page buffer memory 5 ... Output processing function part 6 ... Image buffer memory 7 ... Printer interface part 8 ... Printer engine part 11 …… CPU 12 …… ROM

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 29/38 B41J 13/00 B41J 3/60

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A print control device for analyzing print information output from an external device to generate dot information, and for printing the generated dot information by a printing unit, wherein the operation mode related to a specific command is: A first operation mode for executing a first process based on the specific command and a second process associated with the first process;
Control means having a second operation mode for executing the first processing without executing the processing of the above, and storage means for previously storing setting data for setting an operation mode related to the specific command. Judging means for judging whether or not the print information output from the external device is the specific command, and when the judgment means judges that the print information is the specific command, the control means A print control apparatus that executes an operation mode corresponding to the setting data stored in the storage unit. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the specific command is a front surface designation command during a double-sided printing process, and the first process is to close a page for which dot information is being created, and to make the closed page correspond to a surface of a print medium. The second process is to feed a print medium on which the closed page is printed, and then to a feed port for feeding the print medium. 2. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the process is a process of feeding the next print medium from a different paper feed port.