JP3492258B2 - Recording apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording device and its control method. In particular, the present invention relates to a recording device that returns status data in response to a status request from the outside and a control method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a recording device that responds to a status request input from a host computer or the like and returns status data indicating its own state. In communication related to such status data, first, a reply item is set for setting an item to be returned in response to a status request in the recording device. After that, when there is a status request, the recording device sets a reply item according to the information of the set reply item. Then, the data corresponding to the set reply item is returned to the host computer as status data.

[0003]

Therefore, the recording device is
After the power was turned on, until the reply item to the status request was received from the host computer and the item to be returned was set in the recording device, the status data could not be returned even if the status request was received.

As described above, the status data is returned as follows.
After the power of the recording device is turned on, it cannot be performed until the host computer sets items to be returned to the recording device. Therefore, when the recording device is in a busy state before the host computer sets the reply items at power-on, the recording device cannot notify the current state to the host computer. For example,
If the ink cartridge is not installed or the printer main body cover is opened when the power is turned on, such a situation occurs.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a recording apparatus and a recording apparatus capable of returning status data even in a situation where the host computer cannot set reply items. The purpose is to provide a control method.

[0006]

A recording apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object has, for example, the following configuration. That is, in response to a status request from the outside, an output unit that outputs status information for the reply item set and held in the memory, and a predetermined reply item is set and held in the memory during the initial operation of the recording apparatus. Initial setting means and reply item setting from outside
Update the setting items stored in the memory according to the request
Update means for updating the initial setting procedure.
Or in the memory by the updating means,
Provides status information for the latest retained reply item
Force

Further, a recording apparatus control method according to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object includes, for example, the following steps. That is, in response to a status request from the outside, an output step of outputting status information for a reply item set and held in the memory, and setting and holding a predetermined reply item in the memory at the initial operation of the recording apparatus. In response to the initial setting process and the request for setting reply items from the outside
Update step for updating the setting items held in the memory
And the output step is the initial setting step or
Was set and held in the memory in the updating process
Output status information for the latest reply item.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention can be applied. In the figure, the lead screw 5005 rotates via the driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009 in conjunction with the forward and reverse rotations of the drive motor 5013. The carriage HC has a pin (not shown) that engages with the spiral groove 5005 of the lead screw 5004, and as the lead screw 5004 rotates, the arrow a,
It is reciprocated in the b direction. An inkjet cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage HC.

A paper pressing plate 5002 presses the paper against the platen 5000 in the moving direction of the carriage. Photosensors 5007 and 5008 are home position detecting means for confirming the presence of the carriage lever 5006 in this area and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013. Reference numeral 5016 is a member that supports a cap member 5022 that caps the front surface of the recording head. Further, 5015 is a suction means for sucking the inside of the cap, and performs suction recovery of the recording head through the opening 5023 in the cap. 5017 is a cleaning blade.
Reference numeral 019 denotes a member that allows the blade to move in the front-rear direction, and these members are supported by the main body support plate 5018. Needless to say, a well-known cleaning blade can be applied to this example instead of this form. or,
Reference numeral 5021 denotes a lever for starting suction for suction recovery, which moves in accordance with the movement of the cam 5020 that engages with the carriage, and the driving force from the driving motor is movement-controlled by a known transmission means such as clutch switching. .

The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that the desired processing can be performed at their corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5004 when the carriage comes to the area on the home position side. As long as the desired operation is performed at the timing, any of the above can be applied to this example.

Next, a control configuration for executing the recording control of the above-mentioned apparatus will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. In the figure showing the control circuit, 1700
Is an interface for inputting a recording signal, and 1701 is M
PU, 1702 is a program ROM that stores a control program executed by the MPU 1701, and 1703 is various data (the above-mentioned recording signals, recording data supplied to the head, etc.).
Dynamic RAM (hereinafter referred to as DRA
M). A gate array 1704 controls the supply of print data to the print head 1708, and includes an interface 1700, an MPU 1701, and a RAM 1703.
It also controls data transfer between them. 1710 is the recording head 17
08 is a carrier motor for carrying, and 1709 is a carrying motor for carrying the recording paper. Reference numeral 1705 is a head driver for driving the head, and 1706 and 1707 are motor drivers for driving the carry motor 1709 and the carrier motor 1710, respectively.

The operation of the above control structure will be described. When a recording signal is input to the interface 1700, the gate array 1
A recording signal is converted between the 704 and the MPU 1701 to print data for printing. And the motor driver 1
The recording heads 706 and 1707 are driven, and the recording head is driven according to the recording data sent to the head driver 1705 to perform printing.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control configuration relating to communication with the host computer of the ink jet recording apparatus in this embodiment. In FIG. 3, a control unit 101 of the inkjet recording apparatus includes an arithmetic / control unit 102 that controls the entire recording apparatus, a ROM 103 for storing various information, a RAM 104, a status data reply item setting unit 105, and information with a host computer. A bidirectional communication interface 106 for inputting and outputting is included. In the status data reply item setting unit 105 and the arithmetic / control unit 102, the MPU 1701 of FIG.
It is realized by executing the control program stored in. The ROM 103 is the ROM 17 shown in FIG.
02, and the RAM 104 is the DRA shown in FIG.
It is a part of M1703.

A host computer 200 sends a print job to the ink jet recording apparatus. The host computer 200 issues a status request as necessary to try to collect status information of the inkjet recording apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which the items of the status data held by the recording apparatus of this embodiment are changed. In this embodiment, when the host computer sets the reply status to the recording apparatus, the host computer 200 transmits the ASCII code (hereinafter, referred to as item code) of the label (JOB, ERROR, WARNING) representing the item. . Then, the recording apparatus stores the received item code in the RAM 104. Further, when the recording apparatus sends back status data to the host computer 200, a format of [item label]: [status label] (eg ERRO)
R: PARE) ASCII code (hereinafter,
Status code).

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a process relating to communication of status information of the recording apparatus according to this embodiment. The processing described below is executed by the arithmetic / control unit 102. This is performed by the MPU 1701 in the ROM 17
It is realized by executing the control program stored in 02.

When the power of the recording apparatus is turned on, the recording apparatus is activated in step S11.
In step S12, the status data reply item setting unit 105 sets the initial contents of reply items in the RAM 104.

When reply items are set in the RAM 104,
The recording apparatus monitors the operating state of itself and sets a corresponding state for each reply item set in the RAM 104. For example, E as one of the reply items in the RAM 104
When RROR is set and an error relating to the cartridge is detected, the status label "CARTRG" is set for the item label "ERROR" (see FIG. 4).

In step S13, it is determined whether reply item setting data has been received from the host computer 200. If the reply item setting data has not been received, the process proceeds to step S15, and if it has been received, the process proceeds to step S14. In step S14, the setting of the reply item set in the RAM 104 is updated according to the received data, and then the process proceeds to step S15. In step S15, it is determined whether or not status data is requested from the host computer. If required,
The status data is generated according to the reply items set in the RAM 104, and the status data is sent back to the host computer 200.

As described above, the items of status data to be returned to the host computer are set in advance by the recording device itself when the power is turned on. In this way, since the items of status data to be returned are set by the recording device itself in advance, it is not possible for the host computer to set reply items, for example, when the recording device becomes busy immediately after power is turned on. Even in a possible situation, the status data can be returned from the recording device.

Regarding the processing described in FIG. 5, an example of a specific operation of the recording apparatus of this embodiment when an error occurs during the start-up processing will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a process when an error occurs during the startup process. In addition,
In this example, the items set at startup are JOB and ERROR among the items shown in FIG. The operation of the recording apparatus of this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to these drawings.

First, in step S1, the recording apparatus is powered on. After the power is turned on, the recording apparatus starts the starting process in step S2 (step S11 in FIG. 5). At this time,
JOB and ERROR are set as reply items by the status data reply item setting unit 105 as initial reply items and are saved in the RAM 104 (step S1 in FIG. 5).
2).

Thereafter, the arithmetic / control unit 102 monitors the state of the recording apparatus itself, and records the state value shown in FIG. 4 for each reply item set in the RAM 104. For example, FIG. 6 shows a case where a cartridge error (for example, no cartridge is attached) is found during the startup process. In this case, step S in FIG.
3, the calculation / control unit 102 sets the state value regarding the set reply item in accordance with FIG. Here, [JOB: IDLE] and [ERROR: CRTR]
G] is set in the RAM 104 (step S in FIG. 5).
13). In step S4, the arithmetic / control unit 102 monitors the status data request from the host computer, and if there is a status data request, advances the process to step S5 (step S14). While there is no status request, the status of the recording device is checked, and the status of reply items is updated if necessary.

When there is a status request and the process proceeds to step S5, the arithmetic / control unit 102 returns the JOB and ERROR set in the RAM 14 through the interface 106 (steps S14 and S1 in FIG. 5).
6). In this flowchart, after that, step S6
The error is canceled and the status reply item can be set from the host computer. Then, in step S7, JOB, ERROR, and WARNING are transmitted from the host computer as the setting information of the reply item. The returned reply item is stored in the RAM 104 by the status data reply item setting unit 105 (steps S14 and S15 in FIG. 5). Ie RAM
Initial reply items JOB and ERR held in 104
From OR, new reply items JOB, ERROR, WAR
Updated to NING. Therefore, after the completion of step S7, if there is a request for status data from the host computer, WARNIN is added to JOB and ERROR.
G will also reply.

In the above processing procedure, the state of the recording device is monitored and the state of the contents set as the reply item in the RAM 104 is recorded, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, state values obtained as monitoring results are stored for all items that can be set as reply items, and the state values of the items set as reply items are extracted when the status data is sent in step S16. You may make it send out.

Further, in the above embodiment, the power-on time is shown as the timing when the initial reply item is set in the RAM 104, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the device is reset by operating the reset button, the RAM 1
The initial reply item may be set in 04.

In the above embodiment, a printing apparatus for carrying out ink jet recording is used as a recording mode, but other recording modes such as thermal recording and electrostatic recording such as laser beam recording are used as a portable recording device. It may be a device.

Generally, "setting of status reply item" and "status request" are separate operations, and the host computer sets the reply item in the recording device in advance. Then, the recording device that received the status request
Status information is returned to the host computer according to the set reply item. However, in general, when the recording device becomes busy, data cannot be transmitted from the host computer to the recording device, and it becomes impossible to set reply items to the recording device. Therefore, if an error such as a cartridge error, paper jam, or cover open is detected (for example, these errors are detected when the power is turned on) before setting the reply item, the recording device becomes busy and the reply item is returned. Cannot be set, and it becomes impossible to reply to the status request. On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, even if the reply item cannot be set while the reply item is not set by the host computer, the status information (the default reply item Corresponding status information) will be returned. By operating the signal line, the status request can be accepted even when the recording apparatus is busy, and data can be transmitted from the recording apparatus to the host computer (status information transmission).

Even if the present invention is applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, host computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.), a device composed of one device (for example, copying machine, facsimile) Device).

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium having a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiment to a system or apparatus, and to supply a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
It is needless to say that it can be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

A storage medium for supplying the program code is, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD.
-R, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, ROM, etc. can be used.

Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (operating system) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It is needless to say that this also includes a case where the above) performs a part or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that a case where the CPU or the like included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs some or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is also included.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Even if the host computer cannot set the reply item, the recording device sets the item of status data to be returned by the recording device in advance.
Status data can be returned.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration related to communication with a host computer of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a state of transition with an item of status data held by the recording apparatus of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process relating to communication of status information of the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a process when an error occurs during the startup process.

Continuation of front page (56) Reference JP-A-8-267877 (JP, A) JP-A-8-52924 (JP, A) JP-A-5-216600 (JP, A) JP-A-6-149490 (JP , A) JP-A-9-254391 (JP, A) JP-A-8-39815 (JP, A) JP-A-9-141977 (JP, A) JP-A-2-231178 (JP, A) (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 3/12 B41J 2/00 B41J 29/00

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. An output means for outputting status information for a reply item set and held in a memory in response to a status request from the outside, and a predetermined reply item set in the memory during an initial operation of the recording apparatus. , Initial setting means for holding and holding in the memory in response to an external request for setting reply items
Updating means for updating the set items, the output means is the initial setting means or the updating means.
Latest reply set and held in the memory by means
A recording device that outputs status information for an item . 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the initial operation includes power-on. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the initial operation includes a reset operation. 4. An inkjet recording head for recording by ejecting ink as recording means for recording an image on a recording medium based on print data from the outside. The recording device according to any one of 3 above. 5. The recording head is a recording head that ejects ink by utilizing thermal energy, and is an inkjet recording head that includes a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy to be applied to the ink. The recording device according to claim 4 , wherein 6. The recording head is characterized in that the thermal energy applied by the thermal energy converter causes a state change in the ink, and the ink is ejected from an ejection port based on the state change. Claim 5
The recording device according to 1. 7. An output step of outputting status information for a reply item set and held in the memory in response to a status request from the outside, and setting a predetermined reply item in the memory at the initial operation of the recording apparatus. an initial setting step of holding, held in the memory in response to the reply entry setting request from the outside
An updating step of updating the setting item to be set, the output step is the initial setting step or the updating step.
The latest reply set and held in the memory in the process
A method for controlling a recording device, which outputs status information for an item . 8. The method of controlling a recording apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the initial operation includes turning on a power source. 9. The method of controlling a recording apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the initial operation includes a reset operation.