JP3222686B2 - PRINTING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD OF PRINTING APPARATUS - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sleep mode in which, when print data is not sent for a certain period of time, only a portion for performing a minimum necessary function is energized and energization for other portions is cut off. The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having a function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printing apparatus in which a sleep function is activated by satisfying a condition such as a continuous standby state for a predetermined time, an LED of a printing apparatus main body and a display of an indicator are provided. Are all gone, it is difficult for the user to look at the printing device at a glance and determine whether the sleep function is activated or the power is not turned on. This is confirmed by making a determination by looking at the power switch, which is often present, or by performing an operation to release (end) the sleep state.

[0003]

However, when a confirmation operation is performed as in the latter case of the above-mentioned conventional example, after the confirmation, the confirmer returns to the state where the sleep function has been activated again in the printing apparatus. However, since the printer has already exited from the sleep mode, the printer will remain in the idle mode until the sleep mode start condition is satisfied, such as when the standby mode continues for a certain period of time. There was a drawback that the power had to be continued during that time, resulting in wasteful power consumption.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus capable of easily confirming a sleep state and easily returning to a sleep state after an operation of canceling the sleep state.

[0005]

According to the present invention, various settings are performed.
Operation panel and the sleep function
When the input signal is received, the sleep function is running.
And display control means for displaying on the operation panel
Printer.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below by applying the present invention to a laser beam printer which receives a control code or character code input from an external device and performs a printing operation.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of the laser beam printer (hereinafter referred to as LBP) of the present embodiment.

The LBP main body 100 inputs and stores character information (character code), form information, macro instructions, and the like supplied from an external device (2 in FIG. 3) connected to the outside. , A corresponding character pattern, form pattern, or the like is created, and an image is formed on recording paper as a recording medium.

The operation panel 101 is provided with switches, LEDs, a display, and the like for various operations. The user performs various inputs and performs various outputs to the user.

The control section 1 controls the entire LBP main body 100 and analyzes character information and the like supplied from an external device. The control section 1 converts the character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputs the video signal to the laser driver 102. I do.

The laser driver 102 is a semiconductor laser 1
A circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 103 switches on / off a laser beam 104 emitted from the semiconductor laser 103 in accordance with an input video signal. The laser light 104 is
The electrostatic drum 10 is swung right and left by the rotating polygon mirror 105.
6 is scanned. Thus, an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 106. This electrostatic latent image is developed with a developer (toner) by a developing unit 107 around the electrostatic drum 106 and is transferred to a recording sheet.

A cut sheet is used as the recording paper. The cut sheet recording paper is stored in a paper cassette 108 mounted on the LBP main body 100, and is taken into the apparatus by a paper feed roller 109 and transport rollers 110 and 111. ,
It is supplied to the electrostatic drum 106. When the recording sheet on which the electrostatic latent image is transferred by the developing unit 107 passes through the space between the upper fixing roller 112a and the lower fixing roller 112b with the heater incorporated therein, the toner on the recording sheet is melted by the heat of the heater. Then, it is fixed on the recording paper by pressure.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control system of the LBP.

In FIG. 1, an external device 2 is a host computer for transmitting various print data to the printing apparatus. The control unit 1 includes an input interface unit 21 for inputting various information from the external device 2, a CPU 22 for controlling the entire control unit 1, and a ROM storing a control program for the CPU 22, a character font pattern, and the like.
23, a RAM 24 used for a receiving buffer for storing print data sent from the external device 2 and a work area necessary for the operation of the program, and a printing mechanism for actually printing an output image It has an output interface 25 for outputting to the system 10 and a system bus 31 for connecting these components.

The processing operation of the control unit 1 embodying the present invention in the printing apparatus having the above configuration will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG.

In FIG. 1, a control unit 1 includes an input unit 3 for receiving data, a print data analysis unit 4 for analyzing input data and generating an output image in a bitmap format, and a print data analysis unit 4 for generating an output image in a bitmap format. An output unit 5 for performing ON / OFF control of the laser beam in accordance with the output image, a sleep function control unit 6 for controlling activation and release of the sleep function, and an operation panel control unit 7 for controlling the operation panel 101
And a heater 1 provided in the fixing device 10a of the printing mechanism unit 10.
Heater control unit 8 that controls ON / OFF of the power supply to power supply 0b
And The operation panel 101 is provided with an operation switch 9a, an LED 9b for displaying the status of the printer, and a display 9c. The recording medium 11 is the above-described cut sheet recording paper.

In the above configuration, if print data is not sent to the input unit 2 for a certain period of time, the sleep function control unit 6 sends an LED 9b and a display 9 to the operation panel control unit 7.
A signal is sent to turn off the display of c, and a command (signal) is issued to the heater control unit 8 to stop the heater 10b.

The operation panel control unit 7 receiving the instruction
And the heater control unit 8 include an LED 9b and a display 9c, respectively.
Is turned off and the heater 10b is stopped to shift to the sleep function execution state.

In this sleep function execution state, when a certain operation switch 9a is pressed several times, the fact is transmitted to the sleep function control section 6 as a signal through the operation panel control section 7. Upon receiving the signal, the sleep function control unit 6 determines that the operation is a confirmation operation of whether or not the user is in the sleep state, and instructs the operation panel control unit 7 to display on the display 9c an indication that the apparatus is sleeping. Issue a command (signal).

The operation panel control unit 7 receiving the instruction
Gives an indication on the display 9c that it is sleeping,
Move to sleep confirmation state. After the display, when a certain operation switch 9a is pressed again several times, the signal is transmitted to the sleep function control unit 6 as a signal through the operation panel control unit 7.

Upon receiving the signal, the sleep function control unit 6 determines that the operation is a sleep confirmation state end operation by the user, and turns off the operation panel control unit 7 so as to erase the display indicating that the display is in sleep on the display 9c. Command (signal).

Operation panel control unit 7 receiving the instruction
Turns off the display indicating that the display 9c is sleeping,
The sleep confirmation state ends.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an algorithm for checking the sleep function execution state in the sleep function control unit 6 as described above.

In the sleep function controller 6, if the sleep function is being executed in S1, when the operation switch 9a of the panel 101 is pressed several times in S2, the display 9c is in a sleep state in S3. Is displayed. further,
When the operation switch 9a of the panel 101 is pressed several times in S4, the display indicating that the display 9c is in the sleep state is erased in S5, and the printing apparatus is returned to the complete sleep state. Then, the processing flow returns to S1 again.

As described above, in this embodiment, the user can easily confirm whether or not the user is in the sleep state by the display operation of only the display 9c without releasing the sleep state by operating the switch in the sleep state.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the first embodiment, the operation switch to be pressed to confirm whether the sleep function is being executed is not specified, but by specifying this switch,
As described below, it is possible to shift to the sleep function execution state by the user.

That is, when the specific operation switch 9a is pressed several times in a state where the sleep function is not being executed, the signal is transmitted to the sleep function control section 6 as a signal through the operation panel control section 7. Upon receiving the signal, the sleep function control unit 6 sends a signal to the operation panel control unit 7 to turn off the display of the LED 9b and the display 9c, and issues a command (signal) to the heater control unit 8 to stop the heater 10b. The operation panel control unit 7 and the heater control unit 8 that have received the command turn off the display of the LED 9b and the display 9c, and stop the heater 10b, thereby shifting to the sleep function execution state.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an algorithm in the sleep function control section 6 described above.

First, when a certain operation switch 9a of the panel 101 is pressed several times in S11 and the sleep function is not being executed in S12, the sleep function is executed in S13 and the process returns to S11 again.

If the sleep function is being executed in S12, the display 9c is displayed in S14 to indicate that it is in the sleep state. Further, when the operation switch 9a of the panel 101 is pressed several times in S15, the display 9c is pressed in S16.
Is turned off, and the printing apparatus is returned to the complete sleep state. Then, the processing flow returns to S11 again.

In this way, at the discretion of the user,
It is possible to shift to the sleep function execution state.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the operation switch 9a of the panel 101 is operated while the sleep function is being executed.
Is pressed several times, a message indicating that the sleep function is to be executed is displayed on the display 9c. However, instead of this method, the following method can be used.

For example, as a third embodiment, a general vibration sensor for detecting vibration applied to the apparatus is provided in the sleep function control unit 6, or the vibration sensor is provided separately from the sleep function control unit 6. And a signal from the vibration sensor is transmitted to the sleep function control unit 6.

When a vibration is applied to the printing apparatus during the sleep function execution state, the vibration sensor detects the vibration and transmits a signal to the sleep function control unit 6. Upon receiving the signal, the sleep function control unit 6 determines that the operation is a confirmation operation of whether or not the user is in the sleep state, and instructs the operation panel control unit 7 to display on the display 9c an indication that the apparatus is sleeping. Issue a command (signal). Upon receiving the command, the operation panel control section 7 displays on the display 9c that sleep is being performed, and shifts to a sleep confirmation state.

After the display, when vibration is applied to the printing apparatus again, the vibration sensor detects the vibration and transmits the signal to the sleep function control unit 6 as a signal. Upon receiving the signal, the sleep function control unit 6 determines that the operation is a sleep confirmation state end operation by the user, and instructs the operation panel control unit 7 to turn off the display indicating that the display 9c is sleeping. ). Upon receiving the instruction, the operation panel control section 7 turns off the display indicating that the display 9c is sleeping, and the sleep confirmation state ends.

When vibration is applied to the printing apparatus while the sleep function is not being executed, the vibration detector that senses the vibration transmits a signal to the sleep function control unit 6 by a signal. Received, the sleep function control unit 6 determines that the operation is a command to shift to a sleep state by the user, and sends an LED to the operation panel control unit 7.
9b and a signal to turn off the display of the display 9c, and a command (signal) to the heater control unit 8 to stop the heater 10b.
Put out.

Operation panel control unit 7 receiving the instruction
And the heater control unit 8 include an LED 9b and a display 9c, respectively.
Is turned off and the heater 10b is stopped to shift to the sleep function execution state. By adopting this method, it is possible to perform a sleep state confirmation operation on a printing apparatus having no operation switch.

As a fourth embodiment, when the printing apparatus is vibrated during execution of the sleep function, the apparatus shifts to a sleep confirmation state by combining the methods of the above-described embodiments, and after the shift, the operation switch 9a is pressed. When the operation switch 9a is pressed after the sleep function has been executed or when the sleep function is being executed, the operation shifts to the sleep confirmation state. It is also possible to get out of the state.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, a message indicating that the sleep function is being executed is output to the display, but as a fifth embodiment, a message that the sleep function is being executed is displayed on the display. Instead, a general voice transmitting device for transmitting a voice message by a signal sent from the sleep function control unit 6 is provided inside or outside the printing device, and the method is used by the method as in the second and third embodiments. When the sleep function control unit 6 receives a signal due to the operation of confirming whether or not the user is in the sleep state, the sleep function control unit 6 transmits a voice message to such a voice transmission device.
Notify the user that it is in sleep state.

By adopting this method, it is possible to perform a sleep state confirmation operation in a printing apparatus having no display panel.

As a specific example, an algorithm of the sleep function control unit 6 when this method and the method of the third embodiment are used is shown in a flowchart of FIG.

First, when vibration is applied to the printing apparatus in S21, and if the sleep function is not being executed in S22, S2
In step 3, the sleep function is executed, and the process returns to step S21. If the sleep function is being executed in S22, a voice message indicating that the apparatus is in a sleep state is transmitted to the voice transmitting apparatus in S24. Then, the processing flow is again performed at S21.
Return to

[0044]

According to the present invention, the user can operate the printing apparatus.
Check that the sleep function is active or not.
Or know if the power is not turned on.
It has the effect of cutting.

[0045]

[0046]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a control system of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the structure of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Control part, 2 ... External device, 3 ... Input part, 4 ... Print data analysis part, 5 ... Output part, 6 ... Sleep function control part, 7 ... Operation panel control part, 8 ... Heater control part, 9a ... Switch Reference numeral 9b: LED, 9c: display, 10: printing mechanism, 10a: fixing device, 10b: heater, 11: recording medium, 100: LBP, 101: operation panel.

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] An operation panel for performing various settings; receiving a predetermined input signal during execution of a sleep function ;
The operation panel indicates that the sleep function is running.
And a display control means for causing the display device to perform printing. 2. The display control device according to claim 1, wherein the display control means executes the displayed sleep.
Means for erasing the display in progress.In response to the erasure of the display, the sleep execution state is continued.
And a sleep function executing means . 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said sleep function executing means includes: said operation panel;
A printing device for stopping the component
Place. 4. Depressing a switch for executing a sleep function
When the input signal is received and sleep is not being executed,
Sleep function execution procedure to shift to sleep function execution state
And sleep when receiving the input signal of pressing the switch.
If running, display that sleep is running
And a display control unit . 5. The sleep function executing means according to claim 4, wherein said display control means displays said sleep function executing means.
A means for stopping the display unit to be controlled and the printing mechanism unit
A printing device characterized by the above-mentioned. 6. A depression of a switch for executing a sleep function.
When the input signal is received and sleep is not being executed,
Sleep function execution procedure to shift to sleep function execution state
And sleep when receiving the input signal of pressing the switch.
If it is running, a sound indicating sleep is running
And a sound generating means for generating sound . 7. An operation panel for performing various settings is provided.
A method of controlling a printing apparatus which is, during the execution of the sleep function, upon receiving a predetermined input signal,
Displaying that the sleep function is running on the operation panel
Printing device having a display control step of causing
Control method. 8. Pressing a switch for executing a sleep function
When the input signal is received and sleep is not being executed,
Sleep function execution stage to shift to sleep function execution state
Floor and sleep when receiving input signal of above switch
If running, display that sleep is running
And a display control step . 9. Pressing a switch for executing a sleep function
When the input signal is received and sleep is not being executed,
Sleep function execution stage to shift to sleep function execution state
Floor and sleep when receiving input signal of above switch
If it is running, a sound indicating sleep is running
Generating a sound to be generated .