JP2886929B2 - 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 a device, the 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 the pages designated for the front face are fed from a different paper feed tray. There is also a proposal for providing a processing start prompting means.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in a printing device capable of feeding paper from two upper paper feed trays, for example, the lower paper is A4 size,
If the upper paper is used for printing in B4 size, if the paper feeder is automatically switched by the surface designation control code as described above, the size of the paper currently being printed will be inconsistent and the printing process will not be performed. There was a problem that it was not possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and includes, for example, a paper feed board switching process and a second attendant process as a first attendant process accompanying a particular command at the time of analysis with a particular command. For example, an object of the present invention is to obtain a printing apparatus in which a process for outputting a sorting mark on a page after a specific command is analyzed is one of first and second accompanying processes according to the value of an initialization parameter file. And

[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. As an operation mode, a first operation mode for executing a first process based on the specific command and a second process associated with the first process, and an operation mode associated with the first process and the first process Control means having a third operation mode for executing the third processing, storage means for storing in advance setting data for setting an operation mode associated with the specific command, and output from an external device. Determining means for determining whether or not the print information is the specific command. If the determination means determines that the print information is the specific command, the control means Executes an operation mode corresponding to the setting data stored in the storage means.

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. The second process is a process of generating a blank page corresponding to the back side, and the second process is performed after a sheet of a print medium on which the closed page is printed is fed, This is a process for feeding the next print medium from a different paper feed port. The third process is a process for causing the printing unit to output a sorting mark.

〔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 mode 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. The value of the initialization parameter file stored in the RAM 15 prompts the activation of a series of accompanying processes associated with the specific command, and executes a complex process with one command.

At this time, the output processing function unit 5 controls which one of the first and second associated process activations is executed, and causes one of the processes to be 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 the activation of the first accompanying process is executed, the process of temporarily switching the paper feed tray for the recording medium (recording paper) before and after the specific page after the analysis of the specific command is a specific command process (in this embodiment, the surface designation). A reminder accompanying the control code and a series of page processing) are performed.

When the second associated process is activated, a process of outputting a sorting mark on a specific page after the analysis of the specific command is performed by a specific command process (in this embodiment, the process is prompted together with the surface designation control code, and Page processing).

The paper feed port for the recording medium is controlled as described later.

 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 sheet, and the next page is printed on the front side. For example, 4
When the surface designation control code is analyzed at the top of the page,
The print data of the fourth page to be printed on the back surface of the third page is printed on the front surface of the fifth page, and the back surface of the third page is blank. This processing is the original function of the surface designation control code. However, in the present invention, when the value of the initialization parameter file stored in the RAM 15 executes the first associated process activation, the following process is performed. Since a function of switching the paper feed table is added in addition to the original function of the front surface designation control code, a character code instructed to print on the front surface by the front surface designation control code is written into the page buffer memory 4 at the same time. In addition to this, the paper feed table switching flag of the page is set to the upper stage, and the analysis of the print data is continuously performed.

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 table 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.

If the upper and lower paper sizes are operated differently, the value of the initialization parameter file according to the present invention is set to the second value.
If the start of the accompanying process is executed, printing can be performed without switching the paper feed tray.

The activation of the second associated process will be described below. Since a function for outputting a sorting mark is added in addition to the original function of the front surface designation control code, a character code instructed to be printed on the front surface by the front surface designation control code is written into the page buffer memory 4 at the same time. Along with this, a sorting mark is written on the page in the page buffer memory 4, and the analysis of the print data is continuously performed. 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 development 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 a series of processes are executed as an incident.

As a result, what used to output the sorting mark with a special control code that outputs the sorting mark in the past,
The sorting mark is output only by the surface designation control code.
Also, even if the upper and lower paper sizes are different, chapter breaks, section breaks and the like can be separated by the output of the sorting mark.

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. Incidentally, (1) to (16) show each step.

First, print data is received from the host computer 1 to the input buffer memory 2 (step 1). Then
The data analysis function unit 3 determines whether or not the print data is completed (step (2)), and if NO (during reception of the print data), executes the data analysis process (step (3)).

Next, it is determined whether or not the code received by the data analysis function unit 3 is a surface designation control code (step (4)).
If NO, the analyzed print data is written to the page buffer memory 4 (step (5)). Next, it is determined whether one page of data has been written to the page buffer memory 4 (step (6)). If NO, the process returns to step (1), and if YES, the process proceeds to step (12) and subsequent steps.

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) to determine which of the first and second associated processes is to be executed. If the first associated process is to be executed, the process proceeds to step (9), and the process proceeds to step (9). Set the paper feed table switching flag to the upper row. When executing the second associated process activation, proceed to step (10),
At the same time as outputting the page sorting mark on the front side, the paper feed tray switching flag is set to the same as the previous page (step (11)).

Next, dot development from the page buffer memory 4 to the image buffer memory 6 is performed (step (12)). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the page to be output is the same as the paper feed tray of the previous page by the paper feed tray switching flag of the relevant page in the page buffer memory 4 (step (13)). 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 (14)), and return to step (1).

On the other hand, if YES in step (13), an instruction to transfer the dot information in the image buffer memory 6 is given to the printer I / F unit 7 (step (15)), 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 (1)).
6)), if NO, terminate the process; YES, during creation
Returns to step (12) because there is unoutput data in the page buffer memory 4.

[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 for executing the first processing and a third processing associated with the first processing. When a specific command is included in print information from an external device, the storage is performed. Since the operation mode corresponding to the setting data stored in the means is executed, setting the setting data according to the state of the printing apparatus or the like in the storage means enables the identification without changing or correcting the print information. An appropriate operation mode can be executed for the command.

[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 2/44 G06F 3/12

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 accompanying the first process;
And control means having a second operation mode for executing a third process associated with the first process, and setting data for setting an operation mode related to the specific command are stored in advance. Storage means, and determining means for determining whether the print information output from the external device is the specific command, and when the determination means determines that the print information is the specific command, The printing control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit 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 according to claim 1, wherein the third process is a process of feeding a next print medium from a different paper feed port, and the third process is a process of outputting a sorting mark by a printing unit. 3. apparatus.