JP2956716B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having a plurality of types of print control language interpreters, and more particularly to a printing apparatus having a plurality of paper trays, and printing printed recording paper on a paper corresponding to a selected print control language interpreter. It relates to a tray that is classified and discharged.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, with the progress of office automation in companies and the like, a plurality of document processing apparatuses such as personal computers and workstations have been introduced, and these computers and the like have been connected as the same network as a network system by the same cable. In order to print various data output from the plurality of computers, a plurality of printers are incorporated in the network system.

In the network system as described above, computers and the like often have different models, and these computers and the like have a plurality of types of print control languages. On the other hand, a normal printer incorporates a plurality of types of print control language interpreters so as to be compatible with various computers and the like, and based on data to be transmitted,
A print control language interpreter suitable for the data processing can be automatically selected from a plurality of types of print control language interpreters. Therefore, the computer only needs to output print data in addition to the data designating the printer to be operated for printing, and the operation is simplified. As the print control language interpreter, for example,
A control command system for a plotter used for CAD and the like and a control command system most suitable for document data have been widely used.

Further, a laser printer or the like is provided with a plurality of paper trays, and by operating a tray number provided on an operation panel, the printed recording paper is classified into a desired paper tray and discharged. Has been put to practical use.

[0005]

As described above, in a printer having a plurality of types of print control language interpreters, data output from a plurality of computers can be printed. Since a plurality of recording sheets on which data transmitted from a computer or the like are printed are collectively ejected to one sheet tray, there is a problem that the plurality of recording sheets must be sorted for each document.

Further, in the case of a printer in which a desired paper tray can be selected from a plurality of paper trays, the paper tray can be switched, but a switching operation is required and the operability is lacking. There is a problem.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a printed recording paper,
Used to process print data from multiple paper discharge units
It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus capable of automatically classifying and discharging a sheet to a paper discharge unit corresponding to a print control language interpreter.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus including an interface unit connected to a plurality of external devices.
To process print data from multiple external devices
Memory device that stores multiple types of print control language interpreters
And a plurality of external devices via the interface means
Print data received from the printer
A print data processing means for processing using a tapper,
The data processed by the print data processing means
Printing means for printing on the printing means, printed by the printing means
A plurality of paper discharge units from which recording paper is discharged
Between the print control language interpreter and the paper output unit
The print data processing means is used for data processing based on the
To the paper output unit corresponding to the print control language interpreter
Conveying means for conveying the recording paper printed by the printing means
It is provided with.

[0009]

In the printing apparatus according to the present invention, an interface is provided.
The interface means is connected to a plurality of external devices, and the storage means
Multiple for processing print data from multiple external devices
A type of print control language interpreter is stored. The print data processing means converts the print data supplied from the external device by using the selected print control language interpreter.
Data processing, the processed data is
Printed on recording paper. Then, based on the correspondence between the print control language interpreter and the paper discharge unit set in advance , the transport unit sends the print data processing unit to the paper discharge unit corresponding to the print control language interpreter used for the data processing . Conveys recording paper .

[0010]

According to the printing apparatus of the present invention, as described in the paragraph of [Action], the interface means,
Storage means, print data processing means, printing means,
Providing an output unit and a transport unit , for selecting and processing print data
Paper output corresponding to the used print control language interpreter
To send transportable recording paper that has been printed to the output unit Runode, it can be discharged by classifying the paper discharge portion of the dedicated corresponding the printed recording paper to the print control language interpreter, requiring classification operation of the recording sheet Operability can be greatly improved.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a laser printer having two types of print control language interpreters, receiving data from two external devices of different models, storing the data in a memory, and printing the data. It is. First, a laser printer will be briefly described. As shown in FIG. 1, a laser printer 1 includes a printer casing 4 including an upper casing 2 and a lower casing 3, a laser scanner device 5 provided on the upper casing 2, and a process detachably provided on the lower casing 4. A cartridge 6, a transfer / separation device 9 including a transfer charger 7 and a discharging needle 8, a fixing device 12 including a heating roller 10 and a pressure roller 11, a paper feed roller 13, a registration roller 14, It is composed of a transport device 17 including a roller 15 and a paper discharge roller 16.

The laser scanner device 5 includes a case 21 formed integrally with the upper casing 2, a semiconductor laser 22, a hexahedral mirror 23, an imaging lens 24, a reflection mirror 25, and a case 21 disposed in the case 21. A lens member 27 made of a synthetic resin and the like is provided at the front end of the laser light exit portion 26 formed so as to protrude downward. The process cartridge 6 is detachably mounted on the lower casing 3, and has a photosensitive drum 28, a primary charger 2
9, the developing cylinder 30, the exposure lamp 31, and the like are integrally assembled. Here, a fixing heater 18 composed of a halogen lamp is provided at the center of the heating roller 10 of the fixing device 12, and a thermistor 20 for detecting the temperature of the heating roller 10 is provided. Reference numeral 32 denotes a paper cassette, reference numeral 33 denotes recording paper, reference numeral 34 denotes a first paper tray, and reference numeral 36 denotes a second paper tray.

Next, the operation of the laser printer 1 will be briefly described. The laser light 35 emitted from the semiconductor laser 22 and incident on the hexahedral mirror 23 is deflected by a predetermined angle for each mirror surface of the hexahedral mirror 23 rotating at a constant high speed, so that the laser light 35 is mainly reflected over a predetermined angle range. The laser beam is scanned and then reflected vertically downward by the reflection mirror 25 via the imaging lens 24, and then enters the photosensitive drum 28 via the elongated lens member 27 in the scanning direction of the laser light 35. The laser beam 35 incident on the photosensitive drum 28 is sub-scanned by the photosensitive drum 28 rotating at a constant speed to form an electrostatic latent image on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 28. Note that the main scanning direction of the laser light 35 varies due to variations in surface accuracy of the hexahedral mirror 23, but when transmitted through the lens member 27, the variation in the scanning direction is corrected by the lens member 27. I have.

The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 28 is
The visible image is developed by the toner supplied from the developing cylinder 30, and the visible image is charged on the recording paper 33 conveyed in synchronization with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 28 with a positive charge by the transfer charger 7. The toner is transferred by moving the toner onto the recording paper 33 and attaching the same to the recording paper 33. Thereafter, the recording paper 33 is separated from the photosensitive drum 28 by the discharging needle 8 and is conveyed to the fixing device 12. In the fixing device 12, the toner is fused and fixed to the recording paper 33 by the heating roller 10 and the pressure roller 11.
And any one of the transport paths 45.4 determined by the rotation position of the switching blade 48 of the path changing mechanism 40 described later.
6, the first paper tray 34 or the second paper tray 36
To be transported.

Next, the recording paper 33 is moved to a paper tray 34.3.
6, a description will be given of a path changing mechanism 40 for transporting a sheet by switching to any one of FIGS. The transfer device 17
The main transport plate 41 for transporting the printed recording paper 33 is connected to the end of the main transport plate 41 via the transport roller 15, and is disposed over the first paper tray 34. A pair of auxiliary transport plates 42 and an auxiliary transport plate 43 disposed over the second paper tray 36 are provided respectively.
Accordingly, the first transport path 44 for transporting the recording paper 33 is formed by the main transport plate 41, the second transport path 45 is formed by the auxiliary transport plate 42, and the auxiliary transport plate 4
3, a second transport path 46 is formed. here,
The two second transport paths 45 and 46 are connected to the end of the first transport path 44 in a branched manner.

Immediately above the auxiliary transport plate 43, a rotating shaft 47 is disposed orthogonally to the sheet transport direction, and both left and right ends of the rotating shaft 47 are rotatably supported by the lower casing 3. Have been. The base ends of four switching blades 48 each having a sharp end formed at the distal end are fixed to the rotating shaft 47. Further, an operating lever 49 is provided on the rotating shaft 47.
The rear end of the operating lever 49 is connected to the plunger 50a of the solenoid 50, and a tension spring 51 is stretched between the front end of the operating lever 49 and the lower casing 3.

Therefore, when the solenoid 50 is not driven, the operating lever 49 is located at the inoperative position shown by the solid line due to the spring force of the tension spring 51, and the switching blade 48 is located at the inoperative position shown by the solid line. That is, in this state, the second transport path 45 is connected to the first transport path 4
4, the recording paper 33 transported via the first transport path 44 is transported to the first paper tray 34 via the switching blade 48 and the second transport path 45. on the other hand,
When the solenoid 50 is driven, the operating lever 49
Is rotated to the operating position indicated by the two-dot chain line, so that the switching blade 48 rotates to the operating position indicated by the two-dot chain line. That is, in this state, since the second transport path 46 is connected to the first transport path 44, the recording paper 33 transported via the first transport path 44 passes through the switching blade 48 and the second transport path 46. Then, the sheet is conveyed to the second sheet tray 36.

Next, the control system of the laser printer 1 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 3. Since this control system is basically the same as that of a general laser printer, it will be briefly described. And The control unit 60 of the laser printer 1 includes a video controller 61 and a DC controller 62. The video controller 61 is used to process data supplied from a CPU 63 and two data transmission devices (hereinafter, referred to as external devices) 100 and 101 such as a print control program, various control programs, and a personal computer or a host computer. ROM 64 storing two types of print control language interpreters A and B, a control program for performing print processing and path change control described later, and the like.
And an RO storing outline data (outline data) defining outlines of many characters such as characters and symbols.
M65, a RAM 66 that receives data transmitted from the outside and stores it by a predetermined capacity, a RAM 67 for work memory including an area where dot data created based on the data stored in the RAM 66 is stored, and a RAM 66 A timing control circuit 68 for generating a timing signal when writing / reading data;
Print information converted into dot data, having an Ethernet interface (serial I / F) 69 for receiving data transmitted from 1 and two 4 Kbyte scan buffers composed of a dual port RAM (FIFO memory) , A video interface (VI / F) 70 that sequentially outputs the signals to the DC controller 62, and a panel interface (PI / F) 71 that receives signals from the operation panel 73 and the cassette detector 74. These are connected via a bus 72 such as a data bus. The print control language interpreter A
Is a "BR-script" that can process data by a command system from the external device 100, and the print control language interpreter B can process data by a command system from the external device 101, for example, "ESC / Page"".

The cassette detector 74 detects a mounting position of a detection piece formed on a part of the mounted paper feed cassette 33 by a sensor or the like, and outputs a paper size signal to the panel interface 71.

The DC controller circuit 62 of the control unit 60 includes a main motor drive circuit 75 for the main motor 80, a drive circuit 76 for the solenoid 50, and a heater drive circuit 77 for the fixing heater 18.
And an electrical component circuit 78 for energizing the thermistor 20 and various other sensors and receiving their detection signals, and applying a high voltage to the primary charger 29 / grid bias, transfer charger 7, developing bias, static elimination needle 8, and the like. And a high-voltage unit 79 for receiving a signal from the toner sensor is connected inside the control unit 60. The DC controller circuit 62 includes a laser diode 82, which is a light emitting element of the semiconductor laser 22, and a hexahedral mirror 23. A scanner motor 83 that is driven to rotate is connected.

Here, the external device 100 outputs data in a control command system based on a print control language interpreter A, and sets an "print control language interpreter A" prior to the start of data transfer. Data is output. Also, the external device 101
Data is output using a control command system based on the print control language interpreter B. Interpreter setting data for setting the “print control language interpreter B” is output prior to the start of data transfer.

Next, a print / path change control routine performed by the video controller 61 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that the reference symbol Si (i =
..) Are the respective steps. When data is transmitted from any of the external devices 100 and 101 and R
When stored in the AM 66, this control is started and the RAM 66
A predetermined amount of received data is read out of the received data stored in 66 (S10), and interpreter setting data for setting the "print control language interpreter" included in the head of the received data is searched (S11). ), When the interpreter setting data is detected (S12:
Yes), as a result of determining the type of the print control language interpreter based on the interpreter setting data, in the case of the print control language interpreter A, the transmission data is from the external device 100 (S13: Yes), and the ROM 6
4 is set so as to execute data processing in accordance with the control command system of the print control language interpreter A stored in S4 (S14), and the driving of the solenoid 50 is stopped (S1).
5). That is, at this time, since the drive of the solenoid 50 is stopped, as described above, the switching blade 4
8 is located at the inoperative position shown by the solid line in FIG.
The transport path 45 is connected to the first transport path 44, and the recording paper 33 transported through the first transport path 44 passes through the switching blade 48 and the second transport path 45 to the first paper tray 3.
4.

Next, a printing process is executed (S18).
That is, bit image data is sequentially created for each of the received data stored in the RAM 66, and the bit image data is transferred to the DC controller circuit 62 via the dual port RAM. Thereafter, as described above, based on the control command system of the print control language interpreter A, the laser scanner device 5, the process cartridge 6, the transfer / separation device 9, the fixing device 12, and the transport device 17
Are driven, and images and characters are sequentially printed on the recording paper 33. Then, the printed recording paper 33 is sequentially transported to the first paper tray 34 via the first transport path 44 and the second transport path 45.

Next, if the received data for printing is not completed (S19: No), the next predetermined amount of received data is read from the RAM 66 (S20), and S18 to S20 are repeated. Then, when the reception data is completed (S19: Yes), this control is terminated and the process returns to the main routine.

On the other hand, as a result of determining the type of the print control language interpreter based on the detected interpreter setting data, in the case of the print control language interpreter B, the transmission data is from the external device 101 (S11, S1).
2: Yes, S13: No), the data processing is set to be executed by the control command system of the print control language interpreter B stored in the ROM 64 (S16), and the solenoid 50 is driven (S17). That is, at this time, since the solenoid 50 is driven, the switching blade 48 is located at the operating position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. The recording paper 33 connected and transported via the first transport path 44 is switched by the switching blade 48 and the second transport path 46.
, And is conveyed to the second paper tray 36.

Then, the printing process is executed in the same manner as described above (S18), and the printed recording paper 33 is transferred to the first transport path 4
4 and the second transport path 46 to sequentially transport the paper to the second paper tray 36. If no interpreter setting data is detected (S11, S12: No), the print control language interpreter A set as a default in advance is set (S14).

As described above, the second transport paths 45 and 46 are used to transport the recording paper 33 to the paper trays 34 and 36 corresponding to the selected print control language interpreter.
Is selectively connected to the first transport path 44, so that the printed recording paper 33 can be classified and discharged into dedicated paper trays 34 and 36 corresponding to the print control language interpreter. No sorting work is required, and operability can be greatly improved. Here, the claim
Between the components in the range and the components in the embodiment.
The correspondence will be described. "Interface means"
Is equivalent to the serial interface (69)
Yes, the equivalent of "storage means" is the ROM (64)
Yes, the equivalent of "print data processing means" is CP
U (63), ROM (64), ROM (65), and RAM
(67), etc., and those equivalent to “printing means” are
User scanner (5), transfer / separation device (9) and fixing
Device (12) and control unit (60)
You. The equivalent of a plurality of “paper discharge units” is the first paper
Lay (34) and the second paper tray (36).
The means corresponding to “means” are the transport device (17) and the route changer
Structure (40), CPU (63), ROM (64), and RAM
(67) and the like.

It should be noted that 3 to 3 connected to the end of the first transport path 44
Four second transport paths are provided, three to four paper trays are provided corresponding to the three to four second transport paths, and the switching blade 48 is adapted to the second transport path by a stepping motor or the like. The recording paper printed with the data transmitted from the three or four external devices is discharged to a paper tray corresponding to the set print control language interpreter. You may do so. It is also possible to provide a sorting device having a plurality of paper trays and drive-control the sorting device so as to discharge the printed recording paper 33 to a paper tray corresponding to the set print control language interpreter. It should be noted that the present invention can be applied to various printing apparatuses such as dot printers having a plurality of types of print control language interpreters and configured to automatically switch between these print control language interpreters according to the interpreter setting data. Of course.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a laser printer.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a path changing mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the laser printer.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a print / path change control routine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 laser printer 33 recording paper 34 first paper tray 36 second paper tray 40 path changing mechanism 44 first transport path 45 second transport path 46 second transport path 48 switching blade 50 solenoid 60 control unit 61 video controller 63 CPU 64 ROM 65 RAM

Continuation of front page (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 29/38 B41J 13/00 B65H 29/60 G06F 3/12

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An interface connected to a plurality of external devices.
And means for processing print data from a plurality of external devices.
Storage means for storing various types of print control language interpreters
And from a plurality of external devices via the interface means
Print control language interpreter that selects print data to be received
A print data processing means for processing using the data, the print de
Prints data processed by data processing means on recording paper
A printing unit for discharging the recording paper printed by the printing unit.
Number of paper exits, a preset print control language interpreter and paper exit
Print data processing means
Paper corresponding to the print control language interpreter used for processing
Convey the recording paper printed by the printing means to the discharge section
Printing apparatus comprising: the conveying means, the that.